Nawalparasi – The deadline for the Butwal-Narayangadh road expansion has been extended for the fourth time. The deadline for the eastern section has been extended until 2083 Shrawan 7 and the deadline for the western section has been extended until 2083 Shrawan 5.

The area from Daunne to East Gaindakot of the Narayangadh-Butwal road section is called the eastern section and the area from Daunne to West Butwal is called the western section.

The deadline has been extended because the Chinese contractor company, which started work from Chaitra 2075, did not complete the work within the specified time. The Chinese contractor was supposed to complete the highway expansion work within the first three years. The highway expansion work was not completed even after the first, second and third extensions of one year each, so the extension has been extended for the fourth time.

The Chinese contractor company China State Engineering Corporation had got the contract to expand the 114 kilometers of highway in both sections for Rs 17 billion. Even though the deadline has been extended for the fourth time, the cost of road construction will not increase, said Chudaraj Dhakal, director of the road expansion project. The Chinese contractor company and consultant had asked for time until Magh 2083. Dhakal said that the project office has extended the deadline by one year on the condition that the work be completed by Shrawan 2083. The Butwal-Narayangadh road expansion is ongoing with the loan assistance of the Asian Development Bank.

The cost from Gaindakot to Daunne is Rs. 9,131,895,000. The cost from Daunne to West Butwal is Rs. 7,863,400,000. Out of the 114 kilometers of road, a four-lane road will be constructed in 29 kilometers. A 70-kilometer road in the Butwal-Narayangadh area will be constructed in the market area with 6 lanes. Road upgrading work is underway to make three lanes in about 14 kilometers of Daunne. The Daunne road will be 13 meters wide.

The Department of Roads has stated that the highway expansion work that began on Chaitra 2075 BS has been completed by only 70 percent as of last Ashar.