KATHMANDU, APR 01 -The government has started tightening the screws on Mid-Hill Highway contractors with poor performance record.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has sought clarification from 21 contractors for their “negligible” progress on construction of road and bridges in the Western section of the Mid-Hill Highway.
The ministry has asked the contractors to submit clarification by Friday, showing valid reasons why they failed to work effectively. Publishing a notice, the ministry has also asked the contractors to furnish a “revised work schedule” for efficient implementation of the project, ministry officials said. “We are hopeful the contractors will take their responsibility seriously after this move,” said Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at the ministry. “Otherwise, we can blacklist the companies. If blacklisted, they will not get government contracts for one-three years.”
The ministry’s move is based on the Immediate Action Plan of Administrative and Financial Reforms 2012 issued by the government seven months ago.
The contractors that have been asked to furnish clarification are Swachhanda Nirwan Sewa, Lokpriya Nirwan Sewa, Rautana Construction, Jana Sewa Nirwan Sewa, Oli Builders, Gauri Parwati Nirwan Sewa, Kancha Ram Construction and 14 other joint venture companies. These companies were contracted by the government for road and bridge construction in the Western section of the highway .
Contractors attributed the slow work progress to frequent fuel shortage and no easy access to project site. “We have not been able to work properly as there is no road track opened to the site to take construction materials,” Jay Ram Lamichhane, president of the Federation of Contractors Association of Nepal, who is also owner of Swachhanda Nirwan Sewa. He said his company is expected to complete the assigned work within the next three weeks. “I have already asked the workers to intensify the work,” he added.
The track opening work in the Eastern section of the highwaycompleted last fiscal year and the government has started awarding contracts for selected stretch for blacktopping. In the western section, 12 km track is left to be opened, which will be completed within the current fiscal year, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Roads is making final preparations to shortlist two consulting firms for holding a feasibility study on reduce the length of the highway . The government has been planning limit the length of the highway to around 1,400 km from the existing 1,776 km, adopting tunnels in some sections.
A department official said based on the new study, the length of the road would be reduced with new alignments for saving travel time and cost.
“The tracks that have already been already opened and do not come into new highway planning will be developed as feeder roads,” he added.
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