January 24, Nawalparasi
In a speed check on the Narayangadh-Butwal road expansion project, only 45% of the journey is covered so far, and the finish line is just six months away. The project, on the road since 2018, has faced two deadline extensions, and the latest one is set to expire in mid-July.
Ashish Thapa Magar, the head honcho of the project’s eastern section, spilled the beans, saying they need to sprint to 90% completion by mid-July, factoring in post-construction touch-ups. He’s been on the contractor’s case, urging them to step on the gas.
However, Magar confessed that the progress bar is crawling below expectations. The Narayangadh-Butwal section, spanning 113 kilometers, is like a puzzle missing 65 crucial pieces in the Middle East section.
The game plan involves a six-lane road in the market area with service lanes, but reality check – only 21 kilometers of a two-lane road are in place. To hit the project’s target, they still need to lay down about 125 kilometers of road, excluding bridges.
More than a hundred kilometers of smooth asphalt dreams are yet to come true, but for now, the clock is ticking, and the road ahead is a work in progress.
