Kathmandu, December 31
Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising has warned that contractors responsible for delays in road construction projects will face penalties, and that the government may terminate contracts if needed. Speaking at the 23rd anniversary of Road Board Nepal on December 30, the minister said the government would no longer tolerate contractors who fail to complete road projects within the stipulated deadlines.
“This is not a matter of choice for the government, but a compulsion.” The minister also added that while the demand for road improvements is high, limited budget allocations have become a major obstacle to intervening on such projects on time. Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Keshab Kumar Sharma, said that development should not be measured merely by construction.
He stressed the need for building usable and quality roads, adding that the timely restoration of damaged roadways is an urgent priority. Road Board Nepal Executive Director Ganesh Bahadur KC said that delays in maintaining damaged roads increase costs by three to four times. Likewise, Director General of the Department of Roads, Dr Bijay Jaishi, described road infrastructure as the backbone of development and called for guaranteeing the budget to ensure the timely restoration of damaged roadways.
