KATHMANDU: The long-delayed upgrade of the Dhulikhel–Khawa section of the Araniko Highway has resumed with renewed pace after a new construction company took charge of the stalled project.
According to the Bhaktapur Division Road Office, expansion work restarted in Kartik following a fresh agreement with C&N A-One Kali JV, which has committed to completing the work within 14 months. The contract is valued at Rs 315.6 million excluding VAT.
Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said that the first phase, including blacktopping wider stretches of the road, will be completed by Chaitra. Remaining works will be carried out gradually to ensure full completion within the stipulated timeline. Cutting works at several sections have already advanced the long-awaited project.
The road upgrade has suffered years of delays due to underperformance by the previous contractor. Travelers have been forced to endure three years of difficult and hazardous road conditions marked by dust, mud, traffic jams and frequent accidents.
The Road Office had earlier terminated the contract with Gauri–Parvati Construction Service after the company failed to complete even 25 percent of the work despite exceeding the deadline by 11 months. The company had taken the contract in May 2022 with a completion target of April 2024 but managed only limited drainage and cutting work in certain sections. Repeated monsoon damage further worsened the partially excavated road, leaving large stretches severely deteriorated.
The Dhulikhel–Khawa stretch is a key segment of the Araniko Highway, Nepal’s main route to the Tatopani border with China and a crucial corridor for districts including Dolakha and Ramechhap. Prolonged delays in construction have caused immense inconvenience for commuters and contributed to hundreds of road accidents over the past few years.
The Road Office aims to upgrade the section to a 12-meter-wide road with enhanced load-bearing capacity suitable for heavy freight movement. The design includes a 20-centimeter cement-stabilized base over gravel and two layers of blacktopping, DBM and asphalt concrete, to improve durability. Officials say these features will provide a stronger and more resilient roadway once the project is completed.
With the new contractor mobilized and construction gaining momentum, authorities remain optimistic that the long-pending expansion will finally be completed within the revised deadline.
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