GANDAKI, May 11: Due to the sheer negligence of the contractor and of oversight bodies, a 2.2 km stretch of road along the mid-hill highway in Kaski district is yet to be blacktopped for nearly two years.
The four-lane road from Harichowk-Yamdi of Kaski district under the mid-hill highway is smooth, with the exception of the 2.2 km stretch that has not been blacktopped for 22 months.
According to the highway project office in Parbat, the construction and upgrading works of the road section did not pick up pace due to the negligence of the Motidan Construction Service Pvt Ltd.
The contractor company was awarded the contract in August 2022 to complete the road within two years but much to the dismay, the work remains incomplete, said Kalpana Adhikari, office chief.
The deadline for the contract has been extended till mid-April next year since the construction works remain incomplete, said Adhikari.
Other factors contributing to the delay in construction of the road section are problems related to electricity poles, drinking water pipe management and payment, she explained. She further divulged that they were going to terminate the contract but considered extending the deadline after the contractor company reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate the work.
The office chief also admitted that the delay on the part of the project office to make timely payment to the contractor also affected the construction works to some extent.
Passengers who travel by this road section are facing inconvenience due to the unpaved road. Not only has their journey become tedious but also more difficult because of puddles and potholes developed along the road section, they complained.
There's increasing risk of road accidents due to the deplorable condition of the road section on which hundreds of vehicles move to and from western belt of Parbat, Baglung, Myagdi, Mustang, Rukum East among other districts on a daily basis.
This road section is the main road which links the locality to the capital of Gandaki province, Pokhara.