NAWALPUR: Even though the Narayangadh-Butwal section along the East West Highway was slated to be completed within the deadline of 42 months, the progress has been quite sluggish.

Initially slated for completion within the deadline of 42 months, the project has reported only 50 percent accomplishment in over five years and three months.

According to Engineer Shiva Khanal, the Information Officer for the Narayangadh-Butwal Road Planning east section, as of Baisakh 15 (April 27), only 33 kilometers of the road have been blacktopped.

Progress is swiftly underway, with plans to upgrade the roadway to accommodate four lanes, he claimed.

In the last five months alone, 18 kilometers of road have been upgraded one way when previously took nearly half a decade to pave just 15 kilometers with the blacktop.

All small bridges spanning 25 meters have been already constructed. Now the construction of large bridges is in progress.

Rakesh Jha, the representative of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited reports that blacktopping efforts are currently advancing eastward from Danda of Kawasoti, with progress reaching 27 percent.

However, site clearance work is awaited at Dumkauli, Rajahar, and Gaindakot, causing delays in the overall upgrading process.

The project to upgrade a 113-kilometre road stretch from Gaindakot to Lumbini has been implemented by dividing it into two clusters: 64.42 kilometres from Gaindakot to Daunne (East Section), and 48.58 kilometres from Daunne to Butwal (West Section).

Facilitated by a loan of Rs 16.99 billion from the Asian Development Bank, this project has been recognised as a project of national pride.

Urban areas will have additional two lanes, while in Daunne, it will have a three-lane setup along a five-kilometre stretch due to topographical issue, as stated by the company.