Damak, Dec. 18:The proposed Falgunanda Road that passes through Damak of Jhapa to Panchami, Chisapani, in Ilam and Rabi in Panchthar has not been completed even 33 years after its construction began.

The contract for blacktopping the Falgunanda Road (Damak-Chisapani Road) was granted five years ago but the work has not been completed yet. The contract has been extended multiple times to tar the 33-kilometre stretch from Damak to Chisapani. However, only less than half of the road widening and blacktopping works have been completed so far.

Five years ago, the locals were delighted when a multi-year contract to complete the road in three years was finally awarded as they were hopeful that the road would be ready. This road is considered to be the shortest one to connect the eastern hill with Damak. 

The contract for the seven-kilometre road section from Damak’s first point, (first package), has already been extended four times, but the work remains incomplete.  The responsibility of blacktopping this road section in 30 months was given to Mahalaxmi Kiratshwor JV. The contract was granted at Rs. 225.9 million and has been extended four times. After completing only 62 per cent of the work, the company left the work in the middle.   

Gautam Kumar Dev, Information Officer at the Road Division Office in Damak, said, “The contract for the second section, (15 kilometres) and the third section (11kilometres) of the road was awarded to Lumbini-Ganapati JV. The contract of the second section was granted at Rs. 544.4 million, while the third section was awarded at Rs. 591.1 million. However, the work has been progressing at a snail’s pace.” The contract deadline for these sections also expired a few months ago. 

The second section of the road has achieved only 62 per cent completion while the third section has completed 28 per cent, Dev informed. Despite issuing directives to expedite the work and urging completion as soon as possible, only 50 per cent work of the overall project has been accomplished,” he added.

The road section and its adjacent roads have become a recurring election agenda for nearly 33 years, with discussions dating back to the year 1991/1992. Former Prime Minister and Chairman of CPN-UML, KP Sharma Oli, even visited the area and pledged to prioritise the completion of the construction of the road section.

Mangebung Larumba, recently considered a central point of religious and political influence, is also connected to the road section. The religious guru, Aatmananda Lingden, has been urging political leaders, including the President and Prime Minister, as well as other concerned individuals to complete the road construction work at the earliest.