Ritha-Chankatte road construction in snail pace

Construction of Ritha-Chankatte section of Budar-Jorayal road in Doti district has not progressed. The road construction has witnessed merely 10 percent progress when the contract period is expiring in next four months.

As informed, the contract was signed in Asar 2077 BS with an obligation to complete the construction in three years. Locals blamed that the construction works did not progress due to sheer negligence of the contractor. The contract was signed with the Sharma-Rajendra JV for the up-gradation of the road through the Sudurpaschim Province government budget for the fiscal year 2076/77 BS. As per the contract, the construction has to be completed by Asar 2080 BS. “So far the road construction has seen 10-12 percent progress”, said Chief of Infrastructure Development Office, Dadeldhura, Nawaraj Rawal, adding, “There is almost no possibility to meet the deadline”.

He also accused the contractor of dillydallying in the construction works. The contractor however justified that the construction was delayed due to reasons including COVID-19. Representative of contractor company, Roshan Bhatta said they were effortful to complete the construction works in the stipulated time. He claimed that eight kilometer out of the 10-km road section would be constructed in time. Jorayal-4 ward chair Nandaraj Bhatta complained that the contractor was turning deaf ear to the construction despite follow-ups. In lack of embankment construction along the road side, houses of the locals are on verge of erosion, he added.