Narayangadh-Muglin project: Contractors seek deadline extension to complete works

Chitwan / Feb 16: Narayangadh-Mulgin road widening project contractors have again demanded an extension of 1,049 days in total to complete the long overdue project.

The demand for project extension comes as three years are about to complete despite the deadline of two years given to finish the 33.2km road project with just 74 percent of the works completed.

Earlier, 10 months in three phases were extended for the project as contractors failed to finish it within the deadline.

The road has been divided in to three sections and the contract for constructing each section has been given to different companies.

The deadline for the third section of project ended Wednesday while the deadline for remaining two sections is ending on coming February 20. But, so far work progress is just 74 percent.

According to project’s consultant company’s assistant residential engineer Gyanendra Ghimire, the Supreme-Rautaha JV Company having the contract for working on the 12.1 kilometers third section stretching from Simlata to Muglin has requested for additional 158 days to complete works. Earlier, the company was given extra 10 months.

Earthquake, adverse weather, Tarai Madheh shutdown, fuel crisis, landslides, traffic jam, election and festivals have been cited as the reasons causing delay in the implementation of the project.

Likewise, the contractor Hill-Lama JV has sought additional 336 days to complete the 10.7 kilometres road, while the BLA-Shrestha JV extra 684 days to finish 10.4 kilometres track.

Residential engineer for the project consultant company Pushkar Regmi said a proposal has been made recommending added 99 days out of 1049 days sought under the third section, 89 days of 336 demanded under the second section, and 85 days out of 684 sought under the first section. Under the first part, the recommended additional deadline for the project is 10 May, 2018, while 20 May, 2018 under the second section. Likewise, the project under the third party is to be completed by 30 May, 2018.

The recommendation concerning the extension of additional deadline has been sent to the Department of Roads for approval, said Chief of the Narayangadh-Muglin road project Chandra Narayan Yadav.

The first project deadline was 24 April, 2015. However, the project witnessed extension of the project deadline many times in between, thanks to what the contractors claimed various reasons like the earthquake of April 2015, the border blockade and flooding. RSS