KATHMANDU: The construction process for the Damak-Chisapani road, a project included in Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s election agenda, has moved forward. The project, which connects Damak in Jhapa to Mangsebung in Ilam, has initiated a tender process worth over Rs 1.22 billion for blacktopping the Mangsebung-Larumba-Chisapani section.

The Road Division Office in Damak, under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, has published a notice of intent to award the new contract. According to the notice, the Kathmandu-based Mahalaxmi-Jai Dhananjaya JV has been shortlisted with a bid amount of Rs 1.22 billion, 79 million, 44 thousand, 872 and 61 paisa.

Minister of Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal described the advancement of the long-stalled project as a significant step toward fulfilling government commitments. The 25.5-kilometer road section was originally contracted in February 2020 with a three-year deadline for blacktopping. However, the government terminated the contract after the construction company failed to progress despite repeated notices.

Following the termination, the government decided to forfeit the performance bond, recover remaining costs as government dues, and blacklist the contractor. The contractor challenged this decision in court, which delayed the new tender process. Minister Lamsal stated that the new tender was issued after resolving legal disputes, securing budget consent, and updating the cost estimates and design.

The Damak-Chisapani road has long been a source of hardship for local residents. The pledge to blacktop the road has been a recurring election agenda for various political parties and was specifically included in Prime Minister Shah’s election commitments for Jhapa-5. With the publication of the notice to award the contract, it is expected that construction work will gain momentum once the remaining administrative procedures are completed.