MYAGDI: Road blacktopping has begun in Darwang Bazaar of Malika Rural Municipality-6 in Myagdi, marking the first such upgrade in 19 years. The work is being carried out under the federal government’s complementary grant programme.
Darwang, the administrative and commercial centre of Malika Rural Municipality and western Myagdi, was last blacktopped in 2064 BS. The current project, estimated at Rs 16.65 million, was awarded to Sapkota Builders for Rs 12.68 million.
Rural Municipality Chairperson Beg Prasad Garbuja said road widening, drainage construction, retaining walls, graveling, and the laying of base and sub-base layers have already been completed, while bitumen and chippings have been laid since last week.
“Under the project, 1.4 kilometres of road in the Lower and Upper Bazaar areas of Darwang will be blacktopped,” Garbuja said, adding that the contractor has been urged to complete the remaining work as soon as possible after missing the original deadline for completion within the current fiscal year.
So far, around 300 metres of road have been blacktopped in the Hulak Chowk and Lower Bazaar sections. Blacktopping is still pending in Upper Bazaar, Dhaulagiri Chowk and Syauli Bazaar.
The contractor has sought an extension after missing the Asar 15 completion deadline, citing rising fuel and construction material costs as well as traffic management challenges on the busy road.
Local resident Bhabiraj Fagami said the upgraded road would significantly improve transportation and reduce the long-standing problems of dust and mud.
“We are happy that the road is finally being blacktopped after 19 years,” he said. “We expect cleaner surroundings and easier movement for vehicles and pedestrians.”
The narrow roads in the rapidly expanding Darwang Bazaar have long caused traffic congestion and increased the risk of accidents. To facilitate the road widening, local residents voluntarily removed parts of their houses. A total of 36 houses in Dhaulagiri Tole and 31 in Naya Bazaar Tole were partially demolished.
Krishna Acharya, secretary of the Consumers’ Committee, said a 400-metre drainage system was constructed last year after roadside structures were removed in the Hulak Chowk, Lower Darwang, Pulchowk and Suspension Bridge areas.
Darwang is home to more than 300 households. A separate road section near Janapriya Secondary School was blacktopped by the Gandaki Provincial Government two years ago.
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