PM lays foundation stones for roads, inaugurates police office in Madhes

By Our Correspondents,Janakpurdham/Raghunathpur, Aug. 16: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday remained busy laying foundation stones and inaugurating development infrastructure, including police office building in Dhanuhsa and Mahottari districts of Madhes Province. 

He laid the foundation stone for a 16-kilometre blacktopped road connecting Manharpur, Kharihani, and Simarari under the Shahid Marg in Dhanusha. The road is being constructed with joint investment from the World Bank and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the Madhes Province Government.

The foundation stone was laid at a programme held in Ward No. 17 of Janakpurdham Sub-metropolitan City, in Gyanchok, Manharpur. The road is part of the Provincial and Local Road Improvement Programme.

 According to Santosh Kumar Yadav, Engineer at the Provincial Project Management Unit, the road will be 8 metres wide in rural settlements and 12 metres wide outside of these areas. The road will be constructed in two formats: RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) and DBST (Double Bituminous Surface Treatment).

Although a total budget of Rs 650 million has been allocated for the multi-year project, a contract worth Rs 454.8 million has already been signed with Ashish OSRC JV, Lalitpur. Engineer Yadav stated that the contract aims to complete construction within two years, with the goal of improving the livelihoods of local residents.

Later the same day, Prime Minister Oli also laid the foundation stone for another blacktopped road in Ward No. 3 of Sonma Rural Municipality, Mahottari. This road forms part of the Raghunathpur Bazaar–Sonma–Tarhari–Sundarpur section of the Postal Highway.

Under the same Provincial and Local Road Improvement Programme, being implemented with support from the Madhes Province Government, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, and World Bank loan assistance, an 8.384-kilometre blacktopped road will be constructed in this section. The project, scheduled for completion by March 25, 2027, has an allocated budget of Rs. 346.95 million. A contract worth Rs 197.83 million (including VAT) has been signed with Dhukuchhu Nirman Company Pvt. Ltd. through a public tender process.

In a separate ceremony, Prime Minister Oli inaugurated the newly constructed administrative building of the Madhes Province Police in Janakpurdham. Speaking at the event, he stated that the modern, well-equipped facility would significantly enhance the organisation and delivery of police services in the province.

Expressing his gratitude to all those who contributed to the building's completion, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of good governance and the need to make the public feel the presence of corruption-free administration.

He raised concerns over uncollected customs revenue, citing illegal smuggling and drug trafficking as ongoing challenges. “The open border is being exploited by the wrong elements,” he warned. He urged authorities to ensure that “innocent people are not falsely implicated, while the guilty do not escape justice,” he added.

Highlighting delays in achieving the national vision of a “Happy Nepali, Prosperous Nepal,” Prime Minister Oli criticised those opposing the current government despite having made no contributions to the nation’s progress. He called on law enforcement officials to serve with dedication. “Do not work with the mind set of being police chiefs, but as true servants of the people,” he said.

At the same event, Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh said the absence of a dedicated provincial police force in Madhes has negatively affected revenue collection. He called for a comprehensive policy package, particularly since the province has been declared a dry zone. He also urged the Prime Minister to expedite the Sunkoshi-Marine Diversion Project.

Inspector General of Police Deepak Thapa chaired the event, where Deputy Inspector General Uma Prasad Chaturvedi delivered the welcome address.

The new administrative building, located in Ward No. 4 of Janakpurdham, was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs. 231.43 million. Built by Shivalaya Subedi JV under a multi-year plan of the Ministry of Home, Communications and Law of the Madhes Province Government, the structure features 68 rooms. Previously, the Madhesh Province Police operated from rented premises. The provincial government anticipates a significant improvement in functionality and service delivery following the building’s inauguration.