Myagdi. Myagdi: The construction of seven multi-year road projects run by the Gandaki state government in Myagdi has come to a standstill. The construction of the road has come to a standstill since Last March due to lack of budget.
Last year, myagdi had signed contracts worth Rs 677.8 million with various construction companies for upgrading seven roads and constructing two motorable bridges. The Ministry of Finance had ensured the source of rs 1.2 billion budget. A budget of Rs 15 million to Rs 20 million was allocated this year for the three projects that were contracted last year with a target of completing them within three years.
Gandaki State Assembly member Resham Bahadur Jugjali said the construction has been affected as the government has not managed adequate budget for the projects that have already signed multi-year contracts. “Most of the construction companies were working till Mid-April even though the allocated budget winter was over,” he said, adding, “The construction stalled due to the delay in the transfer of funds or other resources by the government did not appear to be operational until the new fiscal year.” ’
Jugjali complained that he had urged the secretaries, ministers and chief ministers of the thematic ministries not to allow budget shortage in the ongoing and completion phase projects. Beni-Pakhapani, Beni-Darwang, Dharapani-Takam-Shivang, Adivara-Dadagaun, Pakher-Bangja, Bagarphant-Bhakimli road projects have come to a complete halt.
Contractors of Khara-Bim road and Shivaratrikhola motorable bridge have reduced the pace of work. Contractors of Chitre-Ghodepani road and Darkhola motorable bridge project have not started construction yet. The Infrastructure Development Office, Myagdi had proposed an additional budget of Rs 139 million to the ministry for multi-year plans in April. The contractor of the third section of the Beni-Darwang road, Biruwa-Caravan, has been paid Rs 10 million through internal transfer.
Chief of Infrastructure Development Office, Myagdi, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, said that the allocated budget has already been paid and the contractors could not be paid due to lack of transfer or additional budget management.
The contractors of the motorable bridge at Arjekhola have completed the work a year ahead of the target in June, but they are yet to receive the payment. However, the contractors of Adivara Motorable Bridge are working to complete the construction even after the budget is over. Jeevan Rokaya, a construction entrepreneur of Pakher-Baranja road project, said the construction was postponed after the government failed to manage the budget.
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