Kaski. The construction of the western section of the Muglin-Pokhara road upgradation project has slowed down.

The road expansion and up-gradation, which began five years ago, is yet to be completed despite extending the deadline time and again. The 38.71-km stretch from Jamune of Tanahu to Setipul of Pokhara falls under the western section.

The deadline for the project was extended for the third time in December and extended till June 29. However, looking at the recent progress, it is uncertain that the construction will not be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

According to the project, the construction works have been affected due to problems in the supply of petroleum products, hike in the price of construction materials and incessant rainfall in recent days. Due to the price hike, the construction company has said that it has not been able to speed up other works except the most essential works.

According to Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, chief of the Muglin-Pokhara Road Project (west section), the physical progress of the project has been achieved so far. According to him, 38 kms of first phase of blacktopping and 37.28 kms of second layer of roadwork was completed.

Under the project, 20.55 kilometers of four-lane road and 18.16 kilometers of four-lane service lane will be constructed. According to Kunwar, the shortage of fuel has directly affected the construction of the project.

“The construction companies need 4,000 liters of diesel daily, but now they are supplying only 1,500 litres,” he said. The price of construction materials has also gone up exorbitantly, affecting the work. This has made it difficult to complete the project on time. ”

According to Ananta Baral, information officer of the project, construction of service lane, road marking, thermoplastic paint and installation of W beam road safety barrier are going on in the blacktopped area. A contract agreement of Rs 7.40 billion was signed with Chinese company Yanhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction for the construction of the western section of the project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), a major development partner of Nepal.

The contract for the construction of the section was signed on May 15, 2021 and the construction of the section had begun on August 12, 2021.