Tanahun. There has been a delay in upgrading two roads of Byas and Shuklagandaki municipalities, which have been funded by the World Bank.

The construction of these road projects has been delayed under the Urban Governance and Infrastructure Development Program of the Ministry of Urban Development.

The budget has been allocated to complete the work within the month of December of the current fiscal year. Parashar Road in Byas Municipality and Dulegouda-Lamagaun in Shuklagandaki Municipality are being upgraded. An agreement was reached to blacktop these roads using asphalt technology.

Municipality Mayor Baikuntha Neupane said that the tracks opened for the construction of the ring road connecting four wards of Byas ward no. 7, 9, 10 and 11 are being upgraded. The municipality has directed the concerned contractors to complete the work within the stipulated time.

The 10.55-km-long road section connecting Buldikhola-Beltari-Farakchaur-Adheribhanjyang-Kumalgaun-Samata School-Kalesti will be blacktopped. So far, only 18.29 per cent of the road work has been completed.

Senior Division Engineer of Byas Municipality, Dr Raju Poudel, said that the deadline has been extended by six months as the work has not been completed.

An agreement was signed with construction company BKHTDCL ACPL JV Kalimati for upgrading the road at a cost of Rs 408.33 million.

Similarly, 45 per cent physical progress has been made on the Dulegonda-Lamagaun road section. Mayor of Shuklagandaki Municipality, Krishna Raj Pandit, said that the construction company has committed to complete the work within the next 61 days.

The municipality had signed an agreement with the construction company for blacktopping the road on April 1, 2080 BS. Motorway 7. Chief Administrative Officer Ram Chandra Lamgade said that the blacktopping of the 1-km distance has begun. According to Lamade, the amount of the contract is Rs 273.4million.

Shuklagandaki-4, Dulegowda will connect Shuklagandaki-8, 9 and 12 wards. The blacktopping will be carried out through BP Chowk, Health Post Chowk, Pulchowk, Ghari, Talbesi, Malebagar and Lilachowk.