Nepal

The government has warned the contractor of the Narayanghat-Butwal road project of a contract termination over slow progress in works on the East-West Highway.

Issuing a notice on Sunday, the South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project of the Department of Roads said that the contract agreement would be terminated if the contractor did not improve on its pace. 

Works on the 114-km road stretch of the highway are ongoing, with the project being awarded in two packages through a global bidding process. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited had won the tenders for both packages. 

The project is being developed with nearly Rs 17 billion in loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

The project was expected to complete on August 7, 2022. However, the construction company managed just 18 per cent of the total task by the final deadline. 

Against this backdrop, the Department of Roads has warned the construction company to mend its ways by ensuring reforms in a month or face contract termination. 

Road users have to endure difficulties in travel, air pollution, among others, due to the carelessness of the construction company. In addition, people in the vicinity have suffered as road accidents have soared along those stretches of the road. 

“After the contract agreement ended on August 7, the government extended the deadline for one more year at the contractor’s request. But the construction works have remained in a halt at present,” Chief Engineer of Narayanghat-Butwal Road Project (Eastern Section) Ramesh Kumar Dristi said.  - RSS