Kathmandu. The process of blacktopping the Mangsebung-Larumba-Chisapani section of the Damak-Chisapani road connecting Damak of Jhapa to Mangsepani of Ilam has started. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has published a notice of intent to approve a new contract for this road section, which has been stalled for a long time.

Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal said that the construction of roads that had been pending for a long time has been initiated, citing it as an important step towards the implementation of his commitment.

According to a notice published by the Road Division Damak under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, a notice of intent has been issued to approve the contract after completing the evaluation of the tenders received for the new contract. The tender for the contract of Mahalaxmi-Jaya Dhananjaya JV, Kathmandu has been selected for a sum of Rs 1,22,79,44,872.61 billion.

The contract was signed in February 2019 with the aim of blacktopping about 25.5 kilometers of the road section within three years. However, the contract was terminated as per the agreement after the contractor did not proceed with the work despite repeated reminders, correspondence and notices issued by the ministry.

The meeting also decided to forfeit the performance guarantee along with the termination of the contract, to recover the amount required to complete the remaining works as government dues and to blacklist the contractors concerned.

After the contractor filed a case in the court against the decision to terminate the contract, the new contract process was delayed due to legal decision. Minister Lamsal said that the contract has been called again after completing the legal process and resolution of various disputes, source agreement, cost estimation and design update.

With the publication of a notice of intent to approve a new contract, the process of upgrading this road section, which has been waiting for construction for a long time, has begun. This road, which has been a problem for the locals for years, has been included in the election agenda of political parties from time to time.

Stating that the government has forwarded the road construction process as per the commitment, Minister Lamsal said that the necessary process has been completed to implement the project which has been stalled for a long time. It is expected that the road upgradation work will move forward after the completion of the remaining process related to contract approval and construction.

The agenda of blacktopping the road was also included in Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s election commitment letter for Jhapa-5.