Baglungpani–Ghalegaun–Bhujung Road Remains Incomplete Nearly Seven Years After Construction Began

Dragon Media Correspondent

The Baglungpani–Ghalegaun–Bhujung road project in Lamjung’s Kwholasothar Rural Municipality remains incomplete nearly seven years after construction began. The contract for the 17-kilometre road was signed on Asoj 30, 2076 BS, with an original completion deadline of Asoj 29, 2078 BS.

Kancharam Construction won the contract for Rs 366.67 million. The deadline was first extended to Asoj 29, 2079 BS, then to Asar 28, 2081 BS, and later to Chaitra 30, 2082 BS. Despite repeated extensions, the project has still not been completed, and the latest extension process remains pending.

According to Rajesh Adhikari, a consultant at the Infrastructure Development Office, the contractor applied for another extension on Shrawan 4. The project has so far achieved 75 percent physical progress and 74 percent financial progress, while Rs 273.75 million has already been paid.

Under the project, the 10-kilometre section from Baglungpani to Ghalegaun is to be blacktopped, while the seven-kilometre section from Ghalegaun to Bhujung is to be gravelled. So far, 5.5 kilometres of the blacktopping work has been completed, leaving 4.5 kilometres unfinished. Of the seven kilometres scheduled for gravel work, only two kilometres have been completed.

Drainage, earth cutting, concrete works, culverts and retaining walls also remain incomplete. Of approximately 4,900 cubic metres of drainage work required, 2,729 cubic metres has been completed. Only 201 cubic metres of the planned 3,187 cubic metres of concrete work has been finished.

Adhikari said construction has recently remained stalled because the deadline extension process has yet to be finalized. Once completed, the road is expected to improve access to the tourist destinations of Ghalegaun and Bhujung and support local mobility and tourism development.