The road upgradation work along the Okhaldhunga-Rumjatar section has gathered momentum after authorities recently announced that contractors would be fined if they overshot their project deadlines.

“Around 75 percent of the work along the road section has been completed. But it looks like the contract won’t be extended this time,” said Yubaraj Kharel, chief of the Okhaldhunga-Rumjatar road project.

The contract for the work, which started around two-and-a-half years ago, was extended last year, as the construction company failed to complete the work on time. As per the contract renewal, the project should be completed by December 16.

The contract for the 11.1 km long road section was awarded to Tamang Kumar JV Construction at a bid cost of Rs 183 million. The project is being carried out with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank and the Swiss government, under the Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project.

According to Kharel, who is also the district chief of the project implementation unit of the National Reconstruction Authority, the contractors will be fined Rs 90,000 per day if they fail to deliver by December 16.

The federal government has already provided Rs 21 million as compensation for the houses and land acquired to widen the road.