Delay in Completion of Road Construction Despite Multiple Deadline Extensions

The construction of a modern 6-lane road from Chauraha to Golpark in Butwal began over a decade ago but remains unfinished. Initially contracted in Chait 17, 2073 BS, with a budget of around 54 crore rupees, the road was supposed to be completed by 2076 BS. However, the project has faced delays, leading to the termination of the contract in Vaishakh 2081 BS after the contractor failed to complete the work despite eight deadline extensions. Following the cancellation of the initial contract, a new agreement worth approximately 33 crore rupees was made with a new contractor, Baavul Darshan Malika JV, in Asoj 18, 2081 BS. Despite setting a target to complete the work within a year, the new contractor has also struggled to make the expected progress. The road has undergone 10 deadline extensions so far, with two extensions granted by the new contractor, and preparations for a third extension are underway according to the Road Division Office in Butwal. According to the information officer of the Road Division Office in Butwal, Engineer Shubhechchha Sah, the initial deadline for the project was Chait 12. However, a proposal to extend the deadline until Asar Masanta is currently under consideration. The approval or rejection of the deadline extension request is yet to be determined. The physical progress of road construction stands at approximately 58%, with financial progress at 43.95% as per Sah. Despite the condition to complete the construction within a year after breaking the old contract, the agreement with the new contractor in Asoj 18, 2081 BS has not resulted in the desired outcome. Taufik Ahmad Khan, the co-director of the construction company, attributed the delays in construction to cost escalation and a shortage of construction materials such as stones, gravel, and sand. The unavailability of raw materials has been identified as the primary issue causing delays in the project.