Narayangadh-Butwal road work speeds for election

By Gyanu Pangeni,Madhya Bindu, Feb. 26: During the election period, work on the expansion of the Narayangadh–Butwal road is expected to accelerate.

As traffic volume is lower during elections, the project has arranged its workforce so that more work can be carried out at that time.

According to Shiva Khanal, Information Officer for the eastern section road expansion project, work could be affected for around 10 days due to the elections. 

“As at least 10 days of disruption is expected during the election period, we have brought in Indian labourers to continue the work. Most of the workers currently engaged in construction are from Dang and Salyan. 

It takes them around 10 days to travel back and forth for the elections. Since traffic movement is lighter during that time, we aim to accomplish more work than usual,” he said. 

Rakesh Jha, Project Manager of the Nawalpur section, informed that around 500 workers are currently deployed there. According to him, most of the remaining work now has to be carried out by machines, so around 400 labourers are on site. In addition, approximately 100 drivers and technicians are working.

He said that priority has currently been given to the Daunne section in Nawalpur. Blacktopping work is nearing completion, while construction of the central divider and service lanes in market areas is ongoing. 

Bridge construction has been completed, although the Arun Khola bridge is yet to come into operation. Khanal stated that this bridge will also come into operation on Thursday.

He also said that the target is to complete the blacktopping and service lane works by mid-April. In the Daunne area, only concrete works and drainage construction remain. 

Of the four kilometres of concrete paving required, 22 metres have been completed, with only 18 metres remaining. He stated that one side of the Daunne section will be fully pitched by mid-June, easing vehicular movement.