Khotang. The blacktopping of Diktel-Khanidanda-Ahale road – the shortest surface route to connect the eastern Terai districts is not likely to complete in the stipulated time.

The blacktopping of Diktel-Ahale road (10.974-km) that was initiated at the investment of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has only witnessed a physical progress of 48 percent when the stipulated time for the same has exceeded.

The deadline was extended up to May 12 when the contractor company Yakthunghang/Sap/Siruwa JV failed to complete the task of blacktopping in the agreed date of 20 March 2020. Consultant Engineer Chanchal Kumar Jha said that the physical progress of the blacktopping so far was only 48 percent while financial progress was 47.76 percent.

In the fiscal year 2077/78 BS, the financial progress of road blacktopping was 14.23 percent and physical progress 9.14 percent, Engineer Jha informed.

The NRA had initiated the blacktopping of the road from Diktel to Gaighat of Udayapur via Khanidanda airport at the investment of over Rs 210 million. (RSS)