The government has extended the deadline for the Dhulikhel–Suryabinayak road expansion project by one year after the contractor failed to complete the work within the stipulated timeframe.
Repeated deadline extensions have become a common feature of major infrastructure projects, with few being completed on schedule. While government agencies often attribute delays to contractors, contractors frequently point to multiple structural and administrative constraints.
According to Project Chief Bijay Mahato, the deadline for the Suryabinayak–Sanga section has been extended until March 5, 2027, while the Sanga–Dhulikhel section has been given time until February 6, 2027. Previously, the deadlines were March 5, 2026, and February 5, 2026, respectively.
Mahato said overall physical progress of the project stands at just 55 percent. “The contractor is currently constructing an underpass at Sanga and has committed to completing the first phase of pitching from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel by mid-July,” he said, adding that construction work is likely to slow during the monsoon season before resuming at full pace afterward.
The project began three years ago, yet only about half of the work has been completed so far. An official at the Department of Roads said that, given the current rate of progress, meeting even the extended deadline could be challenging.
Road users and local residents continue to suffer due to dust, potholes and prolonged construction. “If the condition of a road connected to Kathmandu is this bad, one can imagine the situation in more remote areas,” a local resident said.
The 15.8-kilometre project has been divided into two sections: the 7.5-kilometre Suryabinayak–Sanga stretch and the 8.3-kilometre Sanga–Dhulikhel stretch. Lama Construction and Bandan Bhagwati JV are responsible for road construction, while Himdung and Thokar Construction are handling bridge works.
Mahato cited four major causes behind the delay: prolonged decision-making on land requirements, delays in relocating utility lines, restrictions on daytime operation of tipper trucks, and the contractor’s slow work pace.
Initially, uncertainty arose over whether the road should be expanded within a 50-yard or 50-metre right-of-way, due to conflicting provisions in the Highway Act 2021 and the Road Act 2031. The road is now being expanded within a 75-foot corridor on both sides, a decision that still requires the demolition of seven additional houses.
Once completed, the existing two-lane road will be upgraded to six lanes.
