GANDAKI, July 26: The physical progress of the western section (Pokhara–Jamune) of the Pokhara–Muglin road has reached 55.10 percent, while financial progress stands at 42.50 percent. According to the project office, blacktopping of the first layer on one side has been completed along 37.70 kilometers of the total 38.88-kilometer stretch.
Chief Engineer Krishna Bahadur Kunwar stated that double-lane blacktopping (four lanes) has been completed on 26.38 kilometers and single-lane blacktopping (two lanes) on 10.32 kilometers.
Construction of this section began in mid-August 2021 and the current contract is valid until mid-January 2026. As the contractor failed to meet deadlines, the term has already been extended twice, Kunwar added.
Mugling-Pokhara road expansion: Eastern section achieves 55 per...
The road expansion and upgrading work is being carried out by Chinese company Anhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction.
According to Kunwar, the road from Jamune in Tanahun to the Seti bridge in Pokhara will feature six lanes on some sections and four lanes on others. Out of 13 bridges in the western section, 11 have been completed, and two are under construction. Among 105 culverts, 103 have been completed.
Bridges have been completed over the Myagde Khola, Kumle Khola, Thade Khola, Samdhi Khola, Mool Khola, Phedi Khola–1, Phedi Khola–2, Rudi Khola, Haledi Khola, Kali Khola (in Tanahun), and Kotre Khola (in Kaski). Meanwhile, the Bijaypur and Seti bridges are still under construction. Physical progress of the Bijaypur bridge has reached 60 percent, and that of the Seti bridge 48 percent. Kunwar said it will take another five to six months to complete the Bijaypur bridge.
The three-year contract period for the Seti bridge will expire this mid-September, but progress remains slow. The bridge was awarded to Rasuwa Construction in mid-August 2022. Delays in design approval and removal of structures within the designated alignment have slowed construction, according to Kunwar.
The sub-structure work of the cable-stayed bridge has been completed, and super-structure work on the downstream section is now underway. The company said although the foundation took more time due to the unique design, the upper structures including towers will be completed faster. Two signature bridges will be built above and below the current China bridge on the six-lane section, with an eye-catching design.
The contract value for the bridge, excluding VAT, is Rs 940 million. Concrete and steel are being used in the construction. The road, part of the 50-year-old Prithvi Highway, is being upgraded and expanded with loan assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
According to the project office, if there are no major obstacles, the upgrading work on this section is expected to be completed by this winter.
The eastern section of the road (Jamune–Muglin), considered the lifeline of Gandaki Province, has seen 86 percent physical progress so far.
