A shortage of bitumen, the key material used in asphalt, has stalled road blacktopping projects across Karnali Province, affecting targets set for the current fiscal year.

The provincial government had aimed to blacktop 161 kilometres of roads this year. However, supply disruptions during the peak construction season have made the target unattainable.

Arjun Kumar Bam, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development, said the shortage caused by tensions in West Asia has severely impacted progress. “The lack of bitumen during the construction season has hit targets hard. Even when available, prices have tripled,” he said.

Contractors said bitumen, which cost Rs90 per kg until mid-February, has surged to around Rs250. “It is not feasible to work at such prices,” said Manav Bam, general secretary of the Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal, Karnali Chapter.

According to the provincial government, only 53.26 kilometres of roads had been blacktopped by mid-April.

Surkhet has completed 20.28 km against a target of 59.7 km. Salyan has achieved about 6.5 km out of 15 km, and Dailekh 6 km out of 10 km. In Rukum West, just 1.2 km has been completed against a 20 km target.

Jajarkot has completed 1.2 km out of 3 km, Dolpa 130 metres out of 2 km, Jumla 850 metres out of 2.5 km, and Mugu 600 metres out of 4 km. No progress has been reported in Kalikot and Humla.

Under the Rural Roads Improvement Project, only 16.5 km of the 39 km target has been completed.