Martadi-Kolti and Khaptad-Dogadi-Martadi Roads Remain Incomplete After 27 Years

Bajura: Construction of the Martadi-Kolti and Khaptad-Dogadi-Martadi roads has remained incomplete even after 27 years since their construction began in 2056 BS.

The roads, regarded as provincial pride projects, have stalled due to delays by construction companies. Although budgets have been allocated every year for their construction and upgrading, the allocated funds have not been fully spent and have been returned due to delays. The Infrastructure Development Office has stated that Rs. 330 million of the allocated budget has been returned.

Janga Bahadur Thapa, Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Achham, said that Rs. 200 million was spent on the Martadi-Kolti road in fiscal year 2082/83, while Rs. 135 million allocated for the Khaptad-Jayabageshwori-Gairikhad-Dogadi-Atichaur road connecting Martadi was returned without work.

The responsibility for constructing the Martadi-Kolti road was given to Baniya Construction Services. “Not only last year, but also in the previous year, the budget was returned due to the contractor’s delay,” Thapa said. A budget of Rs. 150 million had been allocated for the road in fiscal year 2081/82.

Similarly, Rs. 165 million was allocated for the Khaptad-Jayabageshwori-Gairikhad-Dogadi-Atichaur road, another provincial pride project connecting Martadi via Khaptad-Jayabageshwori-Gairikhad-Dogadi-Atichaur. However, KSMKBC/Tez JV, Dhangadhi, Kailali, which signed the contract on Chaitra 16, 2078, carried out work worth about Rs. 25 million during the fiscal year, resulting in the remaining budget being returned.

Under the Martadi-Kolti road, a contract agreement was signed in Ashar 2077 to blacktop the 26-kilometer section from Chuthi to Kolti. PS Baniya Construction Services secured the contract for Rs. 501.7 million and agreed to complete the work within three years.

The combined length of the Martadi-Kolti and Khaptad-Dogadi-Martadi roads is 41 kilometers. A cost tender of Rs. 980 million was invited for construction of the 41-kilometer road. So far, 50 percent of the work has been completed.

Of the total road, 26 kilometers are under one section, while another 15 kilometers extend from Martadi to Dhamkne. A budget of Rs. 580 million was allocated for blacktopping the 15-kilometer section. Although substantial work has been completed on the nine-kilometer section from Martadi to Chuthi under the first section, blacktopping of the remaining six kilometers from Chuthi to Dhamkne is still incomplete.