NAWALPUR: Hoteliers in Daunne have agitated after a Chinese company, which was awarded the contract for the Butwal-Narayanghat road extension, failed to complete the work on time leaving the road in a dilapidated condition.

The contractor company ‘China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd’ has been delaying the road expansion work from time to time citing various reasons.

During the road expansion, diversions have been made to build culverts in some places because of which the roads have collapsed due to the rains.

Hoteliers of Daunne protested by blocking the road on Tuesday evening saying that the construction company failed to complete the road on time. They blocked the highway for about an hour.

Prime Minister KP Oli had laid the foundation stone for the expansion of the 114 km road from Butwal to Butwal-Narayanghat section on March 22, 2019.

Project Chief Ramesh Chandra Dishti said that the work was delayed due to coronavirus infection, and the removal of electricity poles.

Earlier, the workers had agitated saying that they were not paid. There have been disputes between the contractor company and Nepali workers.

The workers had returned to work after reaching a written agreement with Nawalpur Chief District Officer Manmaya Pangeni and Police Chief SP Prakash Malla. Even after that, the workers were agitating saying that they were not paid on time.

A month ago, during a dispute over oil theft, the Chinese side called Nepali workers for talks and thrashed them at the construction office in Razahar.