Crusher shutdown slows Asian Highway work

By Shashidhar Parajuli, Biratnagar, June 8: Construction work on the East–West Highway (Asian Highway) has been severely affected after several crusher industries in Morang were shut down by the administration for operating without registration and failing to meet required standards.

It has been about 50 days since the closure, and no alternative supply has been arranged. This has halted blacktopping work on sections where the sub-base and base work has already been finished.

The 95.76 km section of the Kakadbhitta-Laukahi road under construction with assistance from the Asian Development Bank, covering Package 1 and Package 2, has been affected. 

In particular, the closure of crusher industries operated by businessmen Bhim Paudel and Ambika Guragain along the Chisang River in Morang has disrupted the supply of gravel and asphalt needed for blacktopping, leading to shortages at construction sites.

According to Ujjwal Prasai, a representative of Kalika Construction, the shutdown of crushers has disrupted work that was previously progressing at a rate of 500 metres of blacktopping per day.  He said that although there is a shortage of bitumen nationwide due to tensions in the Middle East affecting supply, Kalika Construction still has sufficient stock.

“We have bitumen worth around Rs.3 billion in stock, but due to the shortage of aggregates, work has been halted for the past 50 days,” Prasai said.  “Daily production of 800 cubic metres of asphalt has stopped, which means around 15 kilometres of blacktopping under Package 1 alone has been affected during this period. Around 10 kilometres in Package 2 was also ready for blacktopping.” He further added that Package 2 is also being affected due to insufficient bitumen supply from another contractor.

According to Sunil Babu Panta, chief of Package 1 (Kakarbhitta to Sitapuri), overall physical progress of the project has reached only around 22-23 per cent.

He said that only 25 kilometres in the eastern section and 18-19 kilometres in the western section have been blacktopped so far. 

Although preparations were in place to proceed with blacktopping on sections where the base course had been completed, the shortage of raw materials has halted progress.

Construction companies have approached the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Morang seeking a solution. 

During this period, construction companies involved in highway development have also reached an agreement to lease Om Shree Crusher Industry and Suppliers, which had been operating without formal registration.

“This crusher was previously leased for project use, but its temporary permit was only for two years, which has now expired,” said Prasai. “We are now in the process of leasing it again for temporary operation.”

However, Chief District Officer Yubaraj Kattel has maintained a strict stance, saying that crusher industries that are unregistered or fail to meet standards will not be allowed to operate under any circumstances. 

Despite repeated requests from construction companies and the project office, he has made it clear that operations cannot proceed without registration and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

While other construction activities on the road continue, the halt in blacktopping, a key technical component, has raised concerns over increased cost and delays. 

On one hand, there is pressure to complete the national pride project on time, while on the other, material shortages are creating significant obstacles.

Prasai said the construction company had written to the project authorities and received verbal assurance from the Minister for Infrastructure Development that the crusher could operate temporarily, as long as materials were used only for the project and not sold elsewhere.

As legal procedures have not been completed, the administration’s strict enforcement against unregistered industries continues. 

Even though contractors have reached leasing agreements, legal hurdles related to registration remain unresolved, making an immediate resolution to the highway construction uncertain.