The much-delayed Narayangadh-Butwal road expansion project has achieved just 69 percent physical progress, even as the third deadline for its completion is set to expire on July 24. The project, being executed by China State Construction Corporation Pvt. Ltd., is now heading toward a fourth deadline extension, with officials confirming that the process is underway to grant another one-year extension.
Shiva Khanal, Information Officer of the Project, stated that work will now prioritize easing transportation along the Daunne section, which has long been a bottleneck for traffic. For now, construction of culverts and other non-essential components has been halted to allow focus on road maintenance and traffic flow.
In a bit of relief for commuters, the new bridge over the Binayi River in Dumkibas is expected to be operational within two to three days. The existing diversion route, frequently washed away by monsoon floods, has caused significant hardship for drivers and passengers. The opening of the bridge is anticipated to mitigate those problems.
Despite being a nationally significant infrastructure initiative, the Narayangadh-Butwal road expansion has faced repeated delays, resulting in severe inconvenience to the public and rising concerns about project mismanagement. Passengers have continued to suffer as incomplete work on this vital east-west highway hinders smooth travel and freight movement.
