Home Minister Warns of Strict Action and Blacklisting if Nagdhunga–Mugling Road Project Faces Delays

26 Chaitra, Kathmandu – Home Minister Sudhan Gurung recently carried out a field inspection of the Nagdhunga–Mugling road improvement project, regarded as a national pride initiative.

During the visit, he issued a stern warning to construction contractors against procrastination and poor-quality work, emphasizing that strict action will be taken against those responsible.

Minister Gurung closely examined the Nabishe–Malekhu and Malekhu–Mugling sections of the project and directed the contractors to complete the work within the stipulated time frame while maintaining the highest quality standards.

“Any delay due to excuses will not be tolerated. If work is not executed as per contract or if there is a compromise on quality, such companies will be immediately blacklisted and penalized,” he stated.

The project’s submitted report to the Home Minister pinpointed the shortage of construction materials as a primary issue. Specifically, legal and administrative complexities in extracting riverbed and quarry materials have caused setbacks. Local authorities have impeded the extraction of river materials like stones, gravel, and sand.

Previously, the closure of crusher industries severely disrupted material supply. Additionally, inconsistent dual taxation systems imposed by various local governments, lack of uniformity in revenue rates, administrative hurdles during material transport by municipalities, and delays in environmental impact assessments and approvals for quarry mining have all contributed to project delays.

The project requested the new government to facilitate the availability and transportation of adequate construction materials from locations such as Belkhu Bagar, Ghatbesi Bagar, and Malekhu–Lam Bagar.

Home Minister Gurung assured that the government would engage in inter-ministerial coordination to provide necessary facilitation and resolve these challenges.