Delayed Narayangadh-Butwal road project riles PM Oli

Kathmandu, Nov 14: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed concern over the delay in completing the Narayangadh-Butwal road project, part of the East-West Highway.

The Prime Minister conveyed this during a meeting with relevant ministers, officials, legislators, and people’s representatives from Rupandehi, Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta West), and Nawalparasi (Bardghat Susta East) at his official residence in Baluwatar today.

He warned that the government would be compelled to terminate the contract if work on the project did not commence by the next month. Prime Minister Oli voiced his objection to the culture of holding up projects for extended periods and stated that citizens’ expectations for the timely completion of the project have not been met.

He pointed out that the prolonged delay has not only caused discomfort to citizens due to dust and environmental degradation but has also had a negative impact on the region’s economic development. The Prime Minister underscored the need for decisive action from the relevant government bodies, stressing that the matter has his “serious attention.” Nawalparasi (Susta East) District Coordination Chief Bhagauti Yadav Rudal also submitted a memorandum urging the government to take prompt action to address the situation.

The government had signed a contract with the China State Construction Engineering Corporation for the project on March 22, 2019 with an initial deadline for completion set for August 7, 2022. However, progress on the project has been slow, with only 52 percent of the work completed so far, and 44 percent of the payment already made.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Debendra Dahal, Minister for Land Management and Cooperatives Balaram Adhikari, and Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Keshab Sharma were also present at the meeting. Minister Dahal informed the Prime Minister that the Ministry has received assurances that work on the project will resume by the end of December.