Contractors demand more time to wrap up Narayangadh-Muglin road project
CHITWAN, Feb 16: Contractors have demanded more time to complete the Narayangadh-Muglin road project.
The project had begun in 2015 and was expected to complete in 2017. But, owing to 2015 April earthquake and Indian blockade and as the project failed to complete, the project deadline was extended for 10 months.
However, the contractors citing frequent landslides, movement of vehicle and election-related activities, have demanded more days to complete the project.
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, work progress is just 74 percent so far.
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 kilometers road, while the BLA-Shrestha JV extra 684 days to finish 10.4 kilometers 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.