Road upgrading work is underway on the Surkhet section of Madan Bhandari Highway. While work is progressing satisfactorily in the eastern part of the district, delays in obtaining clearance for tree felling have affected upgrading efforts in the western part of the district.

Work on the 45-kilometer section between Baddichaur and Balde in the western part of the district has been impacted. Since the road traverses through forested areas, clearance from the federal cabinet is mandatory to fell trees. Due to the delay in getting approval to fell trees, the contractor is focusing on sections where tree felling is not required. This road connects the western parts of the district to the district headquarters, Birendranagar. Local residents have been experiencing significant hardships due to the delays in road upgrading work.

The western section of the highway has been divided into three segments. The Baddichaur-Khambagade segment spans 13 km, with approximately 7 km passing through forested areas. Progress in this segment is sluggish due to the lack of forest clearance. Nevertheless, the construction company is actively working on other components such as drainage and culvert construction, Gabion wall installation.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the 22-km second segment between Bidyapur and Balde has already received approval. However, the proposal for forest clearance for this segment is also pending in the cabinet. The third segment, spanning 10 kilometers from Khambagade to Bidyapur, is being managed by the Karnali Province government, and work has not yet commenced on this portion.

“Work on the eastern section is progressing according to plan as we have already received forest clearance for that section. However, work on the western section has been hindered by the delay in obtaining forest clearance,” Shambu Prasad Acharya, the project’s chief, said.

The project office is currently opening and widening tracks on this section. According to the project office, the project can still be completed on time if clearance is obtained promptly.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Nanda Chapain, who recently visited the site, expressed her commitment to removing obstacles in the road upgrading project. “I will take the necessary steps to secure forest clearance at the earliest,” she affirmed.