Construction on the western section of the Madan Bhandari Highway in Surkhet has been stalled due to recurring disputes, even as work progresses steadily on the eastern stretch. The highway, a national pride project aimed at connecting eastern and western Nepal, has seen several setbacks in Surkhet’s western region, particularly in the Gutu-Balde section.
Most recently, local obstruction has halted work in Bijaura. According to the Madan Bhandari Highway Project Office, Surkhet, the project has been unable to move forward in the area due to disputes from locals regarding the road alignment. The conflict covers a 1,500-meter stretch from Hospital Chowk in Bijaura to Dungkhola via Bijaura Bazaar.
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlines the alignment passing through Bijaura Bazaar to connect Hospital Chowk with Dungkhola. While no objections were raised during the DPR preparation, locals have since blocked construction, claiming that the road would cut through private land and disrupt the local market area.
One of the objectors is Top Bahadur BC, Ward Chairperson of Chaukune Rural Municipality-4, who says, “If the road follows the DPR alignment, I too will be displaced. My land—around eight ropanis—will be affected. Instead of displacing people, the highway should be rerouted.”
Despite local concerns, the Highway Project Office insists that the road must follow the shortest route as per the original DPR. Locals claim that around two dozen homes would be affected if the road is built along the planned alignment. They demand that the highway be diverted by an additional two kilometers to avoid displacing residents.
Although all-party discussions have been held to resolve the issue, no consensus has been reached. Engineer Resham Wali from the project office said, “We cannot deviate from the DPR alignment. Due to local obstruction, we’ve set aside the Bijaura stretch and are focusing on blacktopping the remaining sections.”
According to Wali, out of the 22-kilometer stretch between Dungkhola and Balde, including Bijaura Danda to Bidyapur Danda, 17 kilometers are currently being blacktopped and are expected to be completed by July.
The Madan Bhandari Highway spans 85 kilometers in the Surkhet section, linking Baddichaur in the west to Lagam. The western section has faced delays since its inception due to multiple disputes.
Earlier, during the DPR phase, locals in Barahatal and Panchpuri obstructed survey work. In areas such as Baddichaur (Barahatal) and Baraiche and Dulalthai (Panchpuri), residents opposed the alignment, citing concerns about which sides of the highway would receive development benefits. Although this issue was eventually resolved, another dispute emerged over tree removal between Baddichaur and Khambagade. Work in this area was stalled for a long time due to a lack of permission to cut trees. The provincial government has now taken over upgrading work in that section.
Eastern section nears completion
Meanwhile, the eastern section of the highway in Surkhet is nearing completion. Of the 35-kilometer stretch from Bhedabari to Dhuliyabit, 29 kilometers have already been blacktopped. Work is ongoing on the remaining six kilometers, and the Highway Project Office reports that 90 percent of the work is complete. “Only six kilometers are left to be blacktopped, and that too will be completed soon,” said engineer Wali. “Most of the bridges in this section have also been completed, with only one left to be sloped.”
