The much-delayed Narayanghat–Butwal road expansion project has requested a fourth and final deadline extension, after failing to complete construction within the previously extended deadline of July 23. Despite nearly six years since the contract signing, physical progress remains around 70 percent, prompting concerns over project management and inter-agency coordination.
The project has submitted a request to the Department of Roads to extend the deadline by another year, with the aim of inaugurating the upgraded road by March 2026. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has stated it sees no alternative but to continue with the current Chinese contractor, though officials insist that this will be the final extension and that the contractor must complete the work within the new deadline.
Initially awarded in Dec 2018, the road’s first scheduled completion date was Aug 2022. The project faced numerous setbacks, including the Covid-19 pandemic, delays in tree clearance, utility pole relocation, and institutional instability. Former Secretary Arjun Jung Thapa noted that nearly two years were lost just navigating delays in tree-cutting permissions. An initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) underestimated the number of trees by over 40,000—prompting a re-evaluation that stalled work further.
Additionally, electrical pole relocation and changes in political leadership and bureaucracy contributed to the prolonged delays.
Of the 113 kilometers of the road under construction, 60 km of four-lane paving and 33.5 km of two-lane blacktopping have been completed. The project saw a notable acceleration in 2023/24, completing 30 km of four-lane and 17.5 km of two-lane paving in that year alone.
The project is divided into two sections: Western Section: Butwal to Daunne (48 km) and Eastern Section: Daunne to Narayanghat (65 km).
According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Project Director Chudamani Dhakal, the primary paving will be completed by March 2026, with ancillary works to finish by July 2026). Traffic flow has improved in most areas, except for Daunne, where travelers continue to face extreme hardship due to difficult terrain and construction bottlenecks.
The 13-kilometer stretch through Daunne remains the most challenging part of the project. Located in a fragile Chure region with steep gradients and narrow paths, this segment has posed engineering, geological, and traffic management hurdles. Officials say the need for deep cuts, the presence of massive boulders, and the lack of space for machinery and material storage have severely hampered progress.
With no alternative routes, both construction and traffic must coexist—leading to slower work and persistent public suffering. Although options such as a tunnel or bypass were considered, cost, environmental, and time constraints have so far ruled them out.
To minimize ecological impact, the project includes 43 culverts, two monkey crossings, and 27 ponds. Rope bridges and elevated structures have been installed to facilitate animal movement. The project also donated two vehicles to the District Forest Office in Nawalparasi and plans training programs for speed regulation in protected areas.
In the Eastern Section, which spans 65 kilometers, progress has been steady. About 56.6 kilometers of one-sided paving have been completed, along with two kilometers of bridge segments. Out of the 35 planned bridges, including the prominent Narayani Bridge, 31 have been completed, while two are still under construction. However, 6.4 kilometers remain unpaved, mostly in the Daunne area and near marketplace sections.
Meanwhile, the Western Section, covering 48 kilometers, has achieved 69 percent physical progress and 64 percent financial progress. So far, 62 percent of the paving work has been completed. Of the nine bridges planned in this section, eight have been finished, with construction still ongoing at the Rohini River bridge.
The project regained momentum after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli intervened in April 2024. During an inspection of the Gaindakot section, he instructed authorities to expedite the project and issued a clear warning that contracts would be revoked if work did not commence by Nov 2024. Following his involvement and subsequent diplomatic efforts with the Chinese government, the project began moving forward again.
Authorities argue that cancelling the contract would only delay the project further. Hence, the decision to continue with the same contractor was made, while maintaining pressure for timely completion.
The project is being implemented with Asian Development Bank funding, with 83 percent of the cost covered by loans and 17 percent by the Nepal government. Initially estimated at Rs 21.75bn, the project was awarded at approximately Rs 17bn.
