After a prolonged four-year wait, the much-anticipated Gwarko overpass in Lalitpur is finally set to open for public use from Friday. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will inaugurate the overpass in the afternoon, after which it will be officially opened to vehicular traffic, according to Keshav Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
This milestone marks the first-ever overpass in Nepal, distinguishing it from previously built underpasses like the one in Kalanki.
The contractor, Ashish Samanantar Railigate Company, has completed all final construction tasks—including the installation of traffic lights, road markings, signage, and drainage systems—by Thursday. The overpass measures 320 meters toward Koteshwor and 180 meters toward Satdobato, with a 35-meter-long four-lane bridge at its core.
The Quality Research and Development Center under the Department of Roads received a formal letter from the contractor last Sunday confirming the completion of all works. To date, the government has paid 46 percent of the total Rs 170.6 million contract amount, with the rest pending final documentation and verification.
Officials cited project delays due to the novelty and complexity of the structure. After missing the final deadline of December 23, the contractor faced a fine of Rs 85,000 per day, enforced at a rate of 0.05 percent daily. This penalty pushed the contractor to accelerate the remaining work.
Looking ahead, the ministry plans to construct a second overpass, either in Satdobato or Ekantakuna, in the fiscal year 2025/26, subject to funding approval from the Ministry of Finance. If approved, tenders may be called within the same fiscal year.
The government had earlier amended the Public Procurement Regulations (14th amendment) to accommodate deadline extensions for infrastructure projects, including the Gwarko overpass, which was originally contracted on February 24, 2022.
