Pokhara, 26 July – The western section of the Pokhara-Muglin road project (Pokhara-Jamune) has achieved a physical progress of 55.10 percent and a financial progress of 42.50 percent. Out of the total 38.88 km stretch, 37.70 km has already seen the first layer of asphalt laid in one direction, according to the project office.
According to Chief Engineer Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, 26.38 km of this section has been blacktopped in both directions (four lanes), while 10.32 km has been blacktopped in one direction (two lanes). Construction on this section, which began in September 2021, has a contract deadline of next December. Engineer Kunwar stated that the deadline has already been extended twice due to delays by the Chinese construction company, Yanhe Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction, which is undertaking the road expansion and upgrade. Roughly half of the road from Jamune in Tanahu to Seti Bridge in Pokhara will be six lanes, and the other half will be four lanes.
Out of the 13 bridges in the western section, 11 have been completed, and two are currently under construction. Furthermore, 103 out of 105 culverts have been built. Bridges over Myagdi Khola, Kumle Khola, Thade Khola, Samdhi Khola, Mul Khola, Phedi Khola-1, Phedi Khola-2, Rudi Khola, Haledi Khola, Kali Khola in Tanahu, and Kotre Khola in Kaski have been completed. Under the road contract, the Bijayapur Bridge in Kaski, and under the bridge contract, the Seti Bridge, are currently under construction. The Bijayapur Khola Bridge has reached 60 percent physical progress, while the Seti Bridge’s progress is only 48 percent. Engineer Kunwar estimates that the Bijayapur Bridge will take another five to six months to complete.
The Seti Bridge, being constructed by Rasuwa Construction, which took over the project in July 2022, is nearing its three-year contract period deadline in August, yet its physical progress remains low. Engineer Kunwar attributed the delays to issues ranging from the approval of the bridge’s design to the removal of structures within the standard specifications. This cable-stayed bridge has completed its sub-structure work, and super-structure work is currently underway on the downstream bridge. Although the foundation work for this aesthetically designed signature bridge took longer, the construction company expects the work on the towers and other upper structures to progress quickly. Two attractive signature bridges will be built below and above the existing China Bridge on this six-lane road. The bridge construction is proceeding under a contract worth NPR 940 million excluding VAT, utilizing concrete and steel. This 50-year-old Prithvi Highway, which is considered the ‘lifeline’ of Gandaki Province, is being expanded and upgraded with a loan from the Asian Development Bank. The project office anticipates the road upgrade to be completed by next winter if there are no further obstructions. Meanwhile, the eastern section of the road (Jamune-Muglin) has already achieved 86 percent physical progress.
