The Panchthar section of Mid-Hill Highway has remained incomplete due to the sheer negligence and apathy of contractor. The contractor—Gaura Trishuli JV Company—has not even starting working on the project though its deadline ends on March 17. As a result, construction of road, culverts, retaining walls and other related work of the 

Rs 60 million project in a section covering Chyangthapu in the east to Jhulaghat in the west is yet to be completed.

Gaura Trishuli was selected through the tender process for the road project on three locations but it is yet to start work on all three sites. Though a track of the road upto Chiwabhanjyang, the eastern border with Sikkim, was completed last year, the delay in upgradation has rendered it unsuitable for vehicular movement. Landslides have obstructed the track at various places, Bishweshwor Begha, a local resident, said.

Meanwhile, Shaligram Regmi, an engineer of the  highway project, said they have issued a notice to the contractor as it had failed to come into contact though the deadline is just days away. “We have also warned the contractor of serious consequences if they neglect the work by remaining out of contact. The company, however, has assured us of starting the work soon,” Regmi said. According to a source, the project was incomplete due to the tendency of higher authorities granting extension to contractors despite their delay.

A total of 16 companies were authorised to carry out the road work and construct bridges on the total 59 kilometres track from Ganeshchowk, Amarpur to Chiwabhanjyang in the district. The construction work from Tamor to Myanglung in Tehrathum via Sankranti Bazaar is divided into 15 packages. According to engineer Suresh Tumbahamphe, the work being carried out in these packages is satisfactory.

Engineer Shree Prasad Jabegu of the project said the tendency of granting tender without studying contractors’ background was the main reason behind the problem. In many cases, contractors can neither be tried nor can their contract be revoked until the deadline passes, Jabegu said. “Almost 50 percent of the contractors never visit the field,” Tumbahamphe said, adding that the failure to take any action against them and lack of proper mechanisms to ensure speedy work have been impeding road projects. Meanwhile, the project officials said even the projects of national priority will fail until the government comes up with mechanisms to ensure speedy work.