Madan Bhandari highway: Ridi–Tamghas 25-km stretch blacktopped

In Gulmi, the 25-kilometer stretch of the Ridi–Tamghas section of the Madan Bhandari highway, from Ridi to Birbas, has been blacktopped.

The Madan Bhandari Highway Project Office, Gulmi, said the upgrading, surfacing and blacktopping work was completed within the set deadline.

According to the office's information officer, Engineer Prabhat Tiwari, the Samanantar-Elite JV signed the contract on 2079 Falgun 26 for about Rs 1.65 billion. The section is currently in the defect liability period for the construction company.

The road connects the market areas of Rurukshetra and Chhatrakot rural municipalities.

According to Basanta Khadka, a vehicle driver from Ishma Rural Municipality-4, the journey from Ridi to Tamghas, which used to take nearly two and a half hours, now takes just one hour. He said the risk of accidents used to be high because of the winding, narrow road.

Rurukshetra Rural Municipality chair Yadu Gyawali said connecting the municipality's access roads has brought convenience to residents.

In the second section, work is underway on about 1.75 kilometers of road at Birbas Rajkshetra, at a cost of around Rs 110 million, with physical progress of about 37 percent. This work must be completed by 2083 Magh 25.

Bid evaluation for the Gaudakot–Deurali section is underway. However, on the roughly 32-kilometer stretch from Simaltari in western Gulmi to Machhi in Pyuthan, the Shrestha Saksham JV has completed only about 33 percent of the work in four years.