Lack of coordination hindres progress on road construction

Kathmandu, Nov. 13: In the absence of coordination among the concerned authorities on the road reconstruction projects, the progress of the infrastructure projects is poor.

The Panchkhal-Melamchi road and Dhading-Gorkha road works have suffered due to glitches such as the delay in removing electricity poles, completing survey of land and distribution of land compensation.

Both the road infrastructure projects are being developed under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project (EEAP).

The progress is poor at the Panchkhal-Melamchi road work due to the dillydallying by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in shifting the electricity poles and Department of Survey (DoS)’s delay in allocating the right of way for the road expansion, stakeholders said at a meeting held at the Nepal Reconstruction Authority (NRA) on Tuesday.

Similarly, the relocation of electricity poles and distribution of land compensation have delayed the Dhading-Gorkha road project.

The progress at these two major earthquake recovery projects is not satisfactory, said the NRA.

The meeting has made an understanding to facilitate the road projects in resolving the hurdles related to electricity, survey and forest. The respective authorities have expressed their readiness to expedite the work, according to the reconstruction body.

Deputy Executive Director of the NEA Har Raj Neupane said that the authority had awarded the tender to relocate the electricity poles in Panchkhal-Melamchi road and the work would be started soon.

He said that if the project informed the NEA earlier about the removal of the poles, it would be easier to work. He also said that line agencies in Dhading and Gorakha would be directed to cooperate with the road project in removing the electricity poles on the road.

Director General of DoS Ganesh Prasad Bhatta said that the right of way of the road would be marked immediately after his office received the details from the Land Revenue Office.

Department of Forest (DoF) will begin the works to clear the forest only after receiving a letter from the National Planning Commission (NPC) mentioning that the road is national priority project, said Navin Giri, Under-Secretary of the department.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NRA Sushil Gyawali urged the agencies to create collaboration at the earliest so as to facilitate the road development.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 November 2018.