TANAHU: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, has directed the contractor company to expedite the completion of the under-construction Muglin-Pokhara road.

While inspecting the western section of the Prithvi Highway from Jamune to Pokhara today, he directed the construction company to complete the work on time and facilitate smooth traffic.

On the occasion, he acquired information about the progress made so far from Jamune to Pokhara under the western section and expressed his commitment to assist in resolving issues.

A physical progress of 59.76 percent and financial progress of 47.80 percent has been so far made in terms of road expansion in the western section.

According Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the Head of the project, laying the first layer of asphalt has been completed in one direction on 37.4 km out of the 48.88 kilometre stretch. He informed the Minister that a four-lane asphalt road was completed on 29.61 kms and a two-lane asphalt has been completed on 7.79 kms.

Out of 12 bridges in the section, 11 have been constructed while a bridge is under construction over the Seti River.

Project Head Kunwar said that in the last fiscal year, out of the target to upgrade 25 km of road in the western section to four lanes, 23.08 km was asphalted.

The project office stated that out of the target to construct 66 culverts, 65 have been completed, and out of the target to construct 51.5 km of drainage, 45.2 km has been completed.

An agreement was signed with the construction company on May 17, 2021. The deadline for completion of the project with a cost of Rs 7.40 billion is on December 31.