The contractors for the Narayanghat-Muglin road widening project have asked for a deadline extension because they have not been able to complete it as per the timeline set by the Roads Department. This is the fourth time in three years that the contractors have asked for extra time. 

The road has been divided into three sections for the project, and different construction companies are working on each section.

The deadline for the first section ended on May 10 while the deadlines for the second and third sections will expire on May 20 and 30 respectively.

The contractors working on the first and second sections have written to the project consultant asking for another 40 days to finish the project. The third contractor has not yet applied for an extension.

The consultant will forward the applications to the Roads Department with its recommendation after reviewing them. A decision will be reached as per the consultant’s recommendation, according to the Roads Department.

“Although we are yet to receive the contractors’ application formally, we have been told that continuous rain in the last few weeks has disrupted work,” said Mukti Gautam, spokesperson for the department. “Apart from the consultant’s recommendation, we will review their application before awarding an extension.”

The contractors have fallen behind, but most of the work on the 33.2-km section of the road that links Prithvi Highway and East-West Highway at their midpoints is completed, the Roads Department said. “Only a 1.5-km section needs to be black topped while 150 metres of road need to be widened,” said Gautam. “The task will be completed soon if the weather improves.”

The Narayangadh-Muglin Road carries the heaviest traffic in the country, accounting for 90 percent of Nepal’s total international trade traffic. More than 20,000 vehicles ply the highway daily.

The project, which is being implemented with a Rs3 billion aid package from the World Bank, will upgrade and expand a 33.2-km section of the Narayangadh-Muglin Road to Asian Highway standard and address road safety, axle load control and environmental sustainability issues along the trade corridor.

The road will be expanded to a double-lane road with a width of 9 to 11 metres. The current width of the road is 5.5 metres. The road will be widened up to 11 metres from Aaptari to Jugedi, and up to 9 metres till Muglin.

The first package of the project, upgradation of the 10.4-km section from Aaptari to Dasdhunga, is being implemented by an Indian joint venture BLA and Shrestha Construction.

The second package, upgradation of the 10.7-km section from Dasdhunga to Simaltal, is being carried out by Wood Hill and Lama Constructions. Similarly, Supreme and Rautaha Construction is working on the 12.1-km section from Simaltal to Muglin, the third package of the project.