Simaltari-Sautamare-Machhi road left abandoned

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT,Resunga, Nov. 26: Several major infrastructure projects under the Madan Bhandari Highway in Gulmi district, particularly the Ridi-Tamghas and Simaltari-Sautamare-Machhi roads, were contracted around the same time. While the 25-kilometre Ridi-Tamghas stretch is nearing completion, the Simaltari-Sautamare-Machhi road remains abandoned even though its contract expired last July. These two are among the largest ongoing projects in the district.

According to the Madan Bhandari Highway Project Office in Tamghas, Shrestha Sakam JV was awarded a contract worth Rs 1.45 billion on October 23, 2022, to blacktop 31 kilometres of road. However, the contractor has completed only 26 per cent of the work.

Another blacktopping project, linking Chhaldi to Thadung in Isma Rural Municipality-2, has also been left incomplete. During construction, a bulldozer overturned a rock that struck and killed eight-year-old Bishnu Kumal, who was on her way to school. Despite the tragic incident, the road remains unfinished. The contract, valued at Rs 247.26 million, was signed on May 9, 2022, with Rautaha Shrestha Ombuddha JV through the Palpa Road Division Office.

The Deurali-Kamerapani road in Resunga Municipality-7 has been stalled for a year. Locals complain they are forced to walk through mud and dust despite living near the administrative centre. Although three months have passed since the contract expired, no action has been taken against the builder. Awarded for Rs 10.9 million on December 9, 2024, to S.N. Construction, Changunarayan, the project has shown zero progress, informed engineer Ramesh Bhandari of the Local Infrastructure Development Office, Butwal.

Similarly, the concrete bridge over Kukhure Khola in Isma-5, supposed to be completed within one year, has remained abandoned for five years. Atreya Bhusal Basnet JV received the contract worth Rs. 24.3 million on February 4, 2021. However, the contractor is out of contact now.

Even the new Gulmi Hospital building remains unfinished despite three deadline extensions. The project, awarded for around Rs. 260 million on July 2, 2021, to Swachchhand Baniya JV, Makwanpur, has achieved only 88 per cent physical and 80 per cent financial progress, informed engineer Ghanshyam Yadav of the Palpa Urban and Building Construction Project.

These are only a few examples. Many roads, bridges, office buildings, hospitals, and sports grounds across Gulmi are incomplete and in disarray. Newly appointed Chief District Officer Badrinath Gaire has directed all office heads to submit detailed reports on stalled projects within seven days, raising hopes among residents.

“We will facilitate lawful procedures, collect all details within a week, and hold discussions with the contractors to move stalled projects forward,” he said.