RAMECHHAP: Roads across Ramechhap district have become muddy and difficult to drive on, primarily due to construction delays and poor contractor performance.
Many rural, unpaved roads have turned impassable, worsened by landslides in several areas.
Work on key road projects and bridges, including the Manthali–Pakarbas–Goganpani–Galwa road, the Sitkha–Goganpani–Dhulebesi–Bhotnagi road, and the Khimti–Rasnalu–Those road, has been delayed. These projects fall under the jurisdiction of the District Infrastructure Office.
The Sitkha–Goganpani–Dhulebesi–Bhotnagi road was supposed to be blacktopped by last Asoj, but work remains incomplete. Frustrated locals even locked the District Infrastructure Development Office after repeated delays.
Pandav Subedi, a resident of Manthali Municipality-1, said that both contractors and the office failed to fulfill their commitment to finish the project on time.
Likewise, the deadline to blacktop the Pakarbas–Galpa section of the Manthali–Pakarbas–Goganpani–Galwa road was mid-Asad last year. A year later, the work is still incomplete and sections remain muddy and barely passable.
The blacktopping of the 10-kilometer Pakarbas–Goganpani–Galwa road was contracted to Aryal Brothers and Diva Bhuvaneshwori JV for Rs 430 million.
Garima Rautaha Sagun and Panch Pokhari Construction were tasked with the 7.5-kilometer Goganpani–Dhulebesi–Bhotnagi stretch for Rs 170 million.
Krishna Prasad Poudel, Chair of Khandadevi Rural Municipality-4, said the District Technical Office has shown no interest in enforcing deadlines, even though contracts meant to be completed in 18 months have remained unfinished for four years.
The Khimti–Rasnalu–Those road, also under the same office, is in a state of disrepair, with vehicles frequently getting stuck in the mud for hours. Gokulganga Rural Municipality Chair Kaji Bahadur Khadka has demanded action against both defaulting contractors and the officials responsible for monitoring them.
In response, Office Chief Janendra Prasad Pun stated that warnings have been issued to non-compliant contractors. He added that contract agreements will be terminated if work is not completed despite repeated notices.
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