The 10-kilometre stretch in the Baglung section of the 417-km Kaligandaki Corridor, being constructed to connect the Sunauli border of India with the Korala border point of China, has not been blacktopped.

The road section under the Kaligandaki Corridor in Baglung has remained unpaved, even 12 years after the track was opened. The track was opened by the Nepali Army in the fiscal year 2014-15 and later handed over to the Kaligandaki Corridor Road Project for upgrading and blacktopping works.

Despite extensions to the contract period for a second time, the project has still not reached completion. For the Balewa–Maldhunga section in Baglung, the first contract of 24 months was signed on November 15, 2022, followed by a one-year extension on May 31, 2025. Even after the expiry of both deadlines, blacktopping remains incomplete.

Resident Keshav Prasad Subedi said delays in blacktopping have made daily travel difficult.

“The deadline, extended twice, has already expired,” Subedi said. “We are directly affected as the work has not reached completion.”

Traveller Meghnath Subedi said the road turns dusty in winter and muddy during the monsoon due to the lack of blacktop.

“It takes about two hours on foot to reach the district headquarters of Baglung,” he said. “But travelling by vehicle takes even longer because the road is not blacktopped.”

Contractor Khadka Krishna B and JV has been awarded the contract worth Rs481.25 million for 1,300 metres of concrete paving and blacktopping of the remaining sections. Construction entrepreneur Dinbandhu Kafle said delays were caused by budget shortages and weather conditions.

“There have been delays due to various reasons,” Kafle said. “We are now working to complete the blacktopping within one month.”

The Kaligandaki Corridor Road Project Office in Palpa is responsible for the 240-km section from Gaindakot in Nawalparasi East to Maldhunga in Baglung. While other sections have been blacktopped, the Balewa–Maldhunga stretch remains incomplete.

Project engineer Homanath Paudel said the contractor had failed to complete the work within the stipulated time due to delays and various excuses.

“The contractor has said the blacktopping will be completed and handed over within one month,” Paudel said. “If the work is not completed within that time, we will initiate action.”

He claimed that the physical progress of the project stands at 90 percent while the financial progress is at 73 percent.

Local governments, including Baglung Municipality and Jaimini Municipality, have also been pressing for completion of the road section. Jaimini Municipality deputy mayor Harihar Sharma said efforts had been made from all sides, but the work has still not been completed.