The upgrade of the Sanfebagar-Mellekh (Sanfe-Nandegada-Mellekh-Shodsha-Rishidah) road has been stalled for five months, with the contractor out of contact. The responsibility for upgrading the 10-kilometer stretch was awarded to Nati Construction Pvt Ltd, based in Imadol, Lalitpur.
The company signed an agreement with the Infrastructure Development Office, Achham, on 20 June 2022, to complete the project by 28 June 2024, including VAT. Engineer Dipendra Thapa of the Infrastructure Development Office said the road upgrade is part of a phased plan by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of the Sudurpaschim Province.
The deadline was first extended to 13 Jan 2025, and a request for a second extension has been submitted to the ministry. “The work was not completed by the agreed deadline. The contractor claimed he was unable to proceed due to a lack of funds,” said Engineer Thapa. He added that some drainage work on the Ashar section of the road may help prevent further damage during heavy rainfall.
The road upgrade includes drainage construction and gravel layering. According to the Infrastructure Development Office, the contractor has so far received Rs 91.576m. The remaining amount is Rs 41.233m. Accounts Officer Nayan Bahadur Budha reported disbursed payments of Rs 43.785m in 2022/23, Rs 31.127m in 2023/24, and Rs 15.978m in 2024/25.
Jang Bahadur Thapa, head of the Infrastructure Development Office, Achham, confirmed there is no budget shortfall for the project. “The contractor keeps saying he lacks funds to continue the work. We’ve repeatedly requested that he resume the project, and the process of deadline extension is underway,” he said.
Sanfebagar Municipality Mayor Rajendra Bahadur Kunwar said several projects in the region are in disarray due to contractor negligence. “Despite repeated extensions, contractors abandon work mid-way and fail to respond. With the onset of the monsoon, under-construction roads have become even riskier,” he said. “This year’s rainy season is expected to be intense, increasing the risk of floods and landslides due to poorly managed roads.” The public information board placed along the Sanfe-Mellekh road is incomplete, with no mention of the project’s total cost or budget details.
