The public continues to suffer due to the prolonged delay in the construction of the Gwarko Flyover in Lalitpur, attributed to the negligence of officials from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and the Road Department. The Quality Research and Development Center of the Road Department issued a tender under the EPC model in 2021, aiming to complete the project within two years.

A contract was awarded to Ashish-Samanantar-Religare JV in 2021. At the time, Prabhat Kumar Jha was the project head. However, he later stepped down, and a series of officials, including Kailash Kumar Shrestha, Navinman Shrestha, Ajay Mul, and Nareshman Shakya, took over the role. Surprisingly, Jha has now returned as project head, raising concerns among ministry employees.

“There were vested interests behind Jha’s reinstatement as project chief,” a ministry official told Annapurna. Frequent changes in project leadership and the personal agendas of officials have significantly delayed construction. Road Department spokesperson Arjun Prasad Aryal confirmed that work has been stalled for several days but claimed ignorance about the reason. “I have summoned the project chief for discussions. I can provide details only after speaking with him,” Aryal said.

The construction team has accused Jha of disregarding progress made by previous project chiefs, delaying work by failing to implement pre-approved designs, lab tests, and quality assurance plans. His refusal to follow existing technical plans has escalated costs and further pushed back the completion timeline.

Jha has also ordered a re-testing of the previously approved quality assurance plan without justification, forcing the creation of a new plan. This, according to the construction company, will further delay completion and inflate costs. The project, originally tendered by the Road Department’s Quality Research and Development Center based on Geocom Company’s design and cost estimates, was initially projected to cost Rs 230m to Rs 250m. However, it was contracted for Rs 176m. So far, Rs 440m has been spent, with an additional Rs 150m needed for completion.

A senior Road Department official alleged that Jha’s reinstatement was influenced by personal ties, stating, “The company that prepared the project’s design and cost estimate is linked to Jha’s son-in-law. He leveraged this connection to regain his position as project chief.”

Adding to concerns, Jha reportedly ordered the use of substandard materials, against geotechnical engineers' advice, jeopardizing the flyover’s structural integrity. For instance, temporary casing—normally unnecessary in areas with soil—was installed, requiring an imported machine that cost Rs 3m and took three months to arrive, further inflating expenses. Road Department employees have remained silent about the rationale behind this decision.

Officials claim Jha deliberately set unnecessary standards to obstruct approvals and harbored a personal grudge against the construction company. Even the minister is aware of Jha’s mismanagement, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority is monitoring the situation.

Terre Armée, a company involved in major infrastructure projects, has been providing design, supervision, and construction materials for the Gwarko Flyover. However, Jha has reportedly threatened the company, warning of consequences if it does not comply with his directives.

While the Road Department has also held the contractor accountable for flaws in the project, officials accuse Jha of using excuses—such as rejecting a two-year-old quality assurance plan and demanding repeated design reviews and lab tests—to stall progress. These tactics, they claim, have demoralized the construction team and served his personal interests.

A ministry official further alleged that Jha is spreading misinformation about the construction company to justify further delays. “He is briefing the ministry with false claims, blaming the company to cover his own failures,” the official said.

With delays mounting and costs skyrocketing, the Gwarko Flyover remains unfinished, leaving the public to bear the consequences of bureaucratic inefficiency and vested interests.