The long overdue construction of the Rajbiraj-Bhardaha road, which passes through Topa and Hanumannagar, has been delayed, and become a major headache for commuters and residents. The contractor company has failed to accelerate the work, leading to severe inconvenience, especially during the rainy season when mud accumulates and during dry weather when dust creates further issues.

The tender for the road construction, awarded by the Road Division Office in Lahan, was given to Sah Engineering Construction Pvt Ltd of Shambhunath, Saptari, for a sum of Rs257.1 million. The agreement, signed on July 7, 2022, stipulated the completion of the project by July 14, 2024. However, despite starting on time, progress has been slow. As a result, the Road Division Office granted an extension of one year, moving the new completion date to July 14, 2025.

Dilip Kumar Yadav, an engineer at the Road Division Office in Lahan, said that Rabindralal Das, the then chief of the Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Office in Sunsari, approved the extension. Despite this, the contractor has failed to accelerate the pace of work, with physical progress standing at a mere 15.01 percent, while financial progress is at 14.9 percent. The incomplete road and drainage system are causing severe traffic disruptions. With only over four months left before the new deadline, the slow pace of construction remains a significant concern.

Sanjeev Sah, the contractor, argued that delays were due to unpaid bills by the Road Division Office. However, Ashutosh Karna, the chief of the Road Division Office in Lahan, denies it. “There are no pending payments for any bills.” He criticised the contractor for not showing urgency in completing the work despite the extended deadline. Karna said the office would initiate proceedings to seize the company’s security deposit due to continued negligence. “We have urged the contractor three times to speed up the work,” he said.

The delay has caused traffic disruption and affected local markets and settlements. Residents and shopkeepers face health issues due to the dust, while uncovered drains and open pits increase the risk of accidents and injuries. “The dust is making it impossible for people to sit in roadside shops, and residents are struggling to eat,” said Satya Narayan Yadav, chair of ward 8 of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality. “People are falling ill because of the dust.”

Arun Kumar Mandal, the chairperson of Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality, said, “Daily accidents are increasing, and traffic operations are facing problems. The public is suffering. We repeatedly went to the Road Division Office requesting timely completion of the road.” “A commitment was made by the District Administration, the Chief District Officer, representatives of the Road Division, and the contractor to expedite the work, but that commitment remained limited to paper.”

The ongoing issues led locals in Topa Bazaar and Mansapur to stage roadblocks more than five times. After the protests, the contractor and Road Division Office representatives agreed, in the presence of local officials and police, to speed up the work. However, according to local youth Kausal Yadav, the work has not progressed. “It currently takes an hour to travel the 9-kilometre stretch from Rajbiraj to Mansapur,” he said.

Resident Bhagawanlal Yadav expressed frustration, saying, “The poor condition of the road not only causes damage to vehicles but also puts drivers under immense stress.”

Bhola Dahal, the Chief District Officer of Saptari, acknowledged that locals had blocked the road multiple times due to construction delays. He said he had instructed the Road Division Chief and the contractor to fill the pits with gravel and cover the drains while accelerating the work. However, the work has not progressed as expected. Dahal said he would continue to take the initiative to resolve the issue.