Sections of Madan Bhandari Highway remain incomplete

BY TOP LAL ARYAL,Gulmi, April.1: Construction work is currently under way on two sections of the nationally important Madan Bhandari Highway that passes through Gulmi. 

However, work on the western Simaltari-Sautamare section remains incomplete. Among the two sections contracted in the same year (2022), the first section from Ridi to Tamghas is about 95 per cent complete. In contrast, even more than three years after the contract was signed, only about 30 per cent of the physical progress has been achieved on the Simaltari-Sautamare section.

In the new government’s 100-point action plan, controlling delays in development projects has been given priority. This has raised hope among citizens and even among the offices responsible for implementing the project that work will progress. Of the 31.8-kilometre road from Simaltari in western Gulmi to Machhi in Pyuthan, 16 kilometres up to Sautamare lies within Gulmi district.

According to the Madan Bhandari Highway Project Office, the contract for this road construction was signed with Shrestha Saksham JV on October 23, 2022. Information officer and engineer Prabhat Tiwari stated that the contract was awarded at Rs. 1.45 billion. However, so far, only 30 per cent physical progress and 23 per cent financial progress have been achieved.

The contractor has not been able to maintain momentum since the beginning. Currently, apart from road widening, drainage work and machine wall construction have been carried out from Simaltari to Dwanetas. According to Engineer Tiwari, the office has taken all possible measures (except terminating the contract) to facilitate the contractor’s work. The deadline has now been extended again until mid-January 2027. He said, “We have already facilitated in every possible way. This time we will wait only one more week. If progress is not visible in the field, the contract will be terminated.”

The contractor has not carried out any work for the past two months. Due to delays in road construction, settlements are at risk. For the past three years, locals have continued to suffer from dust in the dry season and mud during the rainy season.

Because the contractor has not been working regularly, local governments have also faced criticism. Sarita Khadka, Vice Chairman of Madane Rural Municipality, said they have been forced to endure heavy criticism due to risks such as landslides, flooding, and damage to settlements and farmland during the rainy season. She added that despite repeatedly drawing the attention of both the contractor and the project office to the risks and lack of progress, no improvements have been made.

Due to the extremely slow progress of this national pride project, criticism has come not only from locals but also from officials, political leaders, and leadership at higher levels. Drona Khatri, Chief of the District Coordination Committee, said that despite repeated monitoring and efforts to draw the contractor’s attention, no visible progress has been made, but there is now hope that the new government’s initiatives will bring improvement.