Earlier, ADB had threatened to discontinue its aid to the project after construction works were put off due to protests at the project site. An ADB mission recently visited the construction site of the main access road.[break]
“ADB has turned somehow positive following the visit by its mission,” said the project’s executive director Hari Prasad Sharma, adding that ADB has even signaled extension of an agreement to build the main access road.
As part of construction of the main access road, the project has been upgrading and black-topping for two-and-a-half-years the 22 kilometers Zerokilo-Melamchi segment of the Helamabu Highway.
The road was aimed to be constructed in 19 months but has still been incomplete. Even the extended term expired two months ago. The contractor company has been continuing construction works paying a fine to the company.
The company now claims that 92 percent of construction works has been complete. Sharma said that it was not necessary now to award the contractor an extension of construction. Construction works delayed due to disputes with locals in connection with land ownership and compensation.
Related story
ADB supports Nepal’s digital transformation toward high‑impact...
