The government has extended the deadline for the Dhulikhel–Suryabinayak road expansion by one year after the contractor failed to complete the project within the stipulated time.

Repeated deadline extensions have become common in major infrastructure projects, with few being completed on schedule. While government agencies often blame contractors, contractors cite multiple constraints.

According to Project Chief Bijay Mahato, the deadline for the Suryabinayak–Sanga section has been extended until 5 March , 2027, while the Sanga–Dhulikhel section has been given time until 6 February , 2027. Earlier deadlines were March 5, 2026, for the Suryabinayak–Sanga stretch and 5 February, 2026, for the Sanga–Dhulikhel section.

Mahato said overall progress of the project stands at just 55 percent. “The contractor is currently constructing an underpass at Sanga and has committed to completing the first phase of pitching from Suryabinayak to Dhulikhel by mid-July,” he said. Work is expected to slow during the monsoon and resume at full pace afterward.

The project began three years ago, but only about half of the work has been completed so far. An official at the Department of Roads said that, given the current pace, even the extended deadline may be difficult to meet.

Road users and local residents continue to face severe hardship due to dust, potholes and prolonged construction. “If the condition of a road connected to Kathmandu is this poor, one can imagine the situation in more remote areas,” a local resident said.

The 15.8-kilometre project has been divided into two sections: Suryabinayak–Sanga (7.5 km) and Sanga–Dhulikhel (8.3 km). Lama Construction and Bandan Bhagwati JV are handling road works, while Himdung and Thokar Construction are responsible for bridges.

Mahato cited four main reasons for the delay: prolonged decisions on land requirements, delays in relocating utility lines, restrictions on daytime operation of tipper trucks, and the contractor’s slow pace of work.

Initially, confusion arose over whether the road should be expanded within a 50-yard or 50-metre right-of-way, based on conflicting provisions of the Highway Act 2021 and the Road Act 2031. The road is now being expanded within a 75-foot corridor on both sides, which still requires the demolition of seven additional houses.

Once completed, the currently two-lane road will be expanded to six lanes.

By Bhuwan Sharma