KATHMANDU, May 8: The construction of the Kalanki-Balkhu road, which has been halted as the project is being investigated by the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), has moved forward.
The road division office proceeded with the construction of the road project on its own without the investigation report of the CIAA. The road construction work has been advanced as the road will deteriorate further during the rainy season. The Road Division Office, Kathmandu, has made a plan to start the construction work despite an ongoing investigation by the CIAA.
At present, the construction company has started cleaning the drain at the site. The work of laying other bases has not been carried out as it is not according to the old design. "CIAA investigates what has happened in the past. We will continue the road construction,” said an engineer from the Road Division Office.
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According to the engineer, the design made by the road division office and the road department has reached a situation where the road cannot be constructed. "In the current situation, it is not possible to work according to the design made earlier," said the engineer, "Earlier, the design was prepared and the work was started because of the base failure. But now, after demolishing the road, it is seen that there will be seepage in that area.”
According to him, due to the problem of water coming through seepage, the same type of base should be prepared. For which the road division has now sent the sample to the lab for testing, said the engineer. The engineer said that according to the report sent by World Lab, it will be decided whether a new design should be made or not.
“The report from the lab will come today. The report will be studied by the department and road division and construction will be taken forward accordingly," said the engineer, "according to that report, the design should be made again. Only then will the construction work proceed.”
The lab has sent sub grade, sub base and pre base materials for testing. "There was a problem in the sample test before starting the work, but now, after other problems have been found, the sample has been tested again," he said.
The 1.7 km section of the service lane from Kalanki to Balkhu, on the left was constructed by the ring road expansion project at a cost of Rs 341.8 million. However, within three years, the 'base structure failure' of the road and the need for periodic maintenance were shown, and a new contract was awarded for Rs 138.2 million. The contract was awarded to Worldwide PR SK JV.
CIAA had initiated an investigation on the suspicion that the road was destroyed for the sake of the commissions despite there being no problem with the road. Earlier, the road department and Kathmandu road division had demolished the service lane of Kalanki-Balkhu road which was in good condition and proceeded with the repair. The construction process was halted on March 23.
