Tanahu, Dec 14: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, has directed the contractor company to expedite the completion of the under-construction Muglin-Pokhara road.
While inspecting the western section of the Prithvi Highway from Jamune to Pokhara today, he directed the construction company to complete the work on time and facilitate smooth traffic.
On the occasion, he acquired information about the progress made so far from Jamune to Pokhara under the western section and expressed his commitment to assist in resolving issues.
A physical progress of 59.76 percent and financial progress of 47.80 percent has been so far made in terms of road expansion in the western section.
According Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the Head of the project, laying the first layer of asphalt has been completed in one direction on 37.4 km out of the 48.88 kilometre stretch. He informed the Minister that a four-lane asphalt road was completed on 29.61 kms and a two-lane asphalt has been completed on 7.79 kms.
Out of 12 bridges in the section, 11 have been constructed while a bridge is under construction over the Seti River.
Project Head Kunwar said that in the last fiscal year, out of the target to upgrade 25 km of road in the western section to four lanes, 23.08 km was asphalted.
The project office stated that out of the target to construct 66 culverts, 65 have been completed, and out of the target to construct 51.5 km of drainage, 45.2 km has been completed.
An agreement was signed with the construction company on May 17, 2021. The deadline for completion of the project with a cost of Rs 7.40 billion is on December 31.
No alternative to terminate contract of non-performing projects: Minister Ghising
Meanwhile, Minister Ghising has said there was no alternative to moving ahead by terminating the contract if development activities are stalled.
At a programme organised at Shukla Gandaki municipality of Tanahu district today, Minister Ghising shared that contract would be announced for new process by terminating the contract, adding dillydallying would not be acceptable in development works.
“Development projects of province governments are in limbo. We will move ahead coordinating with province governments for the same. I am carrying out activities thinking how activities can be forwarded by scrapping the contract,” he opined.
Stating that new bridges and road at some of the places should be constructed, Minister Ghising maintenance of the some roads has to be carried out.
On the issue of memorandum submitted by locals of Shuklagandaki municipality regarding development activities, he expressed commitment to hold discussion at the coordination of the concerned stakeholders after reaching Kathmandu.
Tanahu hydropower project being constructed in the district would have a huge economic impact, adding the share of the project could be provided to the people as the project is under cent percent ownership of Nepal Electricity Authority.
Meanwhile, Minister Ghising also inspected GP Koirala National Centre for Respiratory Diseases located at Shukla Gandaki municipality-5 today itself.
On the occasion, Board Member of the Centre, Trilochan Lamsal, urged Minister Ghising for the installation of dedicated power line at the hospital.
Lamsal added that attention of Minister Ghising was also drawn to forward the agreement process with Indian government for upgrading the hospital to 300-bed as per the detailed project report conducted through the then Health Minister Pradip Paudel.
Executive Director of the Centre, Dr Ram Kumar Shrestha, briefed the Minister about services of the hospital.
