The 25-kilometre Dunai-Lyaseekyap section of the Bheri Corridor remains far from completion, with just 13 percent of the work done despite the project being contracted nearly three years ago.

The contractor however blamed shortage of explosives, which are vital for blasting through the rocky terrain, for the slow pace of construction.

Surya-Shreya-Shanti JV, the contractor for the project, blamed the delay on the slow procurement process for explosives, which has only recently been resolved with a formal agreement with the Nepal Army. With less than a year left before the contract expires, there are growing concerns about whether the project will meet its deadlines.

The Bheri Corridor is designed to be a strategic road linking Nepal-India border point at Rupaidiha and Nepal-China border point at Marim, and local authorities are increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress. A multi-stakeholder monitoring team called on the Bheri Corridor Office, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, and the Prime Minister’s Office to cancel the contract citing poor progress and a lack of action from the contractor.

Shyam Bahadur Rokaya, head of the district coordination committee in Dolpa, stated, “With only nine months left on the contract, the contractor has failed to make any significant progress. The construction site lacks both equipment and workers. We have formally requested the relevant authorities to terminate the contract.”

The contractor, Dhruva Shahi, defended the delays, explaining that over half of the road passes through rocky terrain, making blasting necessary. He claimed that the lack of explosives hindered progress and that if they had been allowed to work on flatter areas, progress would have been much faster.

Despite these challenges, Shahi confirmed that the contractor has received 17 percent of the payment for the work completed. However, Sunil Ranjitkar, head of the Bheri Corridor Office, stated that if the contractor fails to expedite work, they would take further action.

“We understand the issues around explosives procurement, but the contractor’s lack of action on plain areas is also contributing to the delay,” Ranjitkar said.

The road, which is crucial for linking the tri-nation border, is also facing delays in its 35-kilometre Lyaseekyap-Sisaul section, which is set to be handed over to the Nepal Army.

Villages in the area still lack road access, and people are forced to rely on walking long distances or using mules to transport goods. Despite the strategic importance of the road, it remains uncertain when the area will be connected to the national road network, leaving residents in a state of limbo.