NAWALPARASI: Locals of Bhedabari voiced their grievances on Tuesday, decrying the government and a Chinese contractor for prolonged delays in the Narayangadh-Butwal road extension project, a vital part of the Mahendra Highway in Nawalparasi.

On Tuesday, residents gathered along the Mahendra Highway in Bhedabari to protest the China State Engineering Corporation, the contracted party responsible for the project. The protestors expressed concerns over the extensive delay in the completion of the road expansion project, which was initially projected to conclude three years after commencement. However, even after five years, over 35 percent of the work remains unfinished.

In an effort to draw attention to the government’s inaction and the contractor’s apparent neglect, locals resorted to a half-hour roadblock within Gaindakot Municipality 11 in Bhedabari.

Lukas Dhital, one of the locals protesting on the highway, shared that the highway blockade garnered support from fellow passengers who shared their frustrations with the project’s tardiness.