The Beni-Arthunge-Toripani-Pakha Pani road project, which received the highest budget allocation from Beni Municipality this fiscal year, has been completed three months ahead of schedule.

Funded by a supplementary grant of Rs 15 million from the federal government and an equal amount from Beni Municipality, the project was prioritized to improve connectivity in Beni Wards 5, 6, 9, 10 and Raghuganga Rural Municipality Wards 5, 6, and 8.

While many infrastructure projects across the country have been delayed due to budget shortages, inflation in prices of construction materials, and other socio-economic challenges, the construction company managed to pull off this section of the road in just three months.

On January 3, Bikas-Dupcheshwor-Subham JV had signed a contract worth Rs 20.9 million to complete the road by July 9. However, under the leadership of Deputy Mayor Jyoti Lamichhane, who also heads the project monitoring committee, a team including elected representatives, technicians, and municipal staff inspected the site on Tuesday and confirmed its early completion.

“The construction company has built supporting structures as per the contract to upgrade the road,” said Lamichhane, “They used concrete equipment for road and drainage works, and quality tests showed good materials were used.”

The municipality has issued a new contract to deploy the remaining Rs 2 million saved from the first phase for additional work, she added.

According to municipal engineer Sudip Gautam, the project involved clearing landslides, widening the road, building retaining walls and drains, and laying concrete on a 908-meter stretch in Beni-9 and 10, from Ratopahiro, Githini to Patlekhet, at the Beni-Pakha Pani entry point. He stated that the concrete pavement, gabion mesh filling, and masonry walls have made travel safer and smoother.

Subas Chandra Karki, a representative from the construction company, ensured timely completion by deploying sufficient labor, equipment, and materials immediately after the contract was signed, according to engineer Gautam.

Originally opened as a track by the then District Development Committee in 2056 BS (1999/2000), around 6 kilometers of the road, from Beni to Kirakhor via Arthunge, has now been blacktopped by the municipality.

Additionally, the provincial government has been upgrading a 4-kilometer section from Kirakhor to Galeshwor Secondary School in Toripani via Neptachaur since last year.

Mayor Surat KC said that the municipality is also upgrading an alternative section of the Beni-Pakha Pani road, from the Neptachaur ward office through Githini to Patalekhet. He emphasized that coordination and facilitation have been ensured to effectively implement this high-priority project.