India commits to complete Tarai roads project on time

India has expressed commitment to push the contractors appointed to construct 606-km Tarai link roads to speed up the works so that the project, which is the biggest India funded project in recent years, could be implemented on time.
Going by the understanding, about half a dozen contractors selected by the Indian government to implement the project are supposed to complete the construction works of the first phase within 30 months of signing the contract. The contract was signed last year.
“About 12 months have already passed since the contractors were appointment. Sadly, only 7 percent of the works have been completed so far,” the Indian delegation had apprised the Nepali team during the bilateral review meeting on the project on Wednesday.
During the talks, the Indian delegation led by Akhilesh Mishra, joint secretary at its Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA), had admitted that the project was delayed because the contractors, who bid lowest to win the contract, couldn´t find workforce in Nepal at costs they quoted for the works.
“No wonder, in the absence of workers, they failed to carry out their jobs. Hence, they are dilly-dallying the matter now,” an official of Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport management (MoPPWTM) present at the meeting quoted the Indian officials as saying in the review meeting.
Following such sincere confession by the Indian side, the Nepali talks team led by Hari Om Srivastav, joint secretary at the MoPPWTM, had requested it to speed up the project implementation henceforth.
“The Indian side has committed to speed up the construction works and complete the project on time -- that is within the next 18 months,” Tulasi Sitaula, secretary at the MoPPWTM, told Republica.
Among others, the Indian team said it would closely monitor the work of the contractors in the field, and push it, whenever necessary, for speedy works.
During the meeting, the Nepali side had also acknowledged weaknesses on its parts, like difficulties faced by it in acquiring land. “We have informed the Indian team that we will complete the land acquisition soon,” Sitaula added.
For the purpose, the Nepali side said it would soon approach the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) for acquiring the forest land -- the only remaining portion under acquisition. “We will work closely with the MoFSC to make that happen soon,” said Sitaula.
The talk team from India and Nepal are scheduled to visit the site on Thursday to observe the development of the project.
Nepal and India had signed an assistance agreement to develop and upgrade 1500-km link roads in Tarai districts in June 2006. Going by the agreement, the Nepali government needs to acquire the land and hand it over to the contractor, who would then construct the double lane roads.
For the construction of the 606-km link roads, which is being developed under the first phase, India has already allocated fund of Rs 10 billion.

Govt requests India to construct bridges as well

The government has requested India to support the construction of bridges along 900-km link roads that will be developed in later phases of the 1500-km Tarai Roads Project.
Under the bilateral assistance agreement, the government had agreed to construct the bridges itself while India would construct the 1500 km road.
"We are constructing bridges on the first 600-km stretch of the Tarai road ourselves," said Hariom Srivastav, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning, Works and Transport Management.
However, the ministry recently approached the Indian government to develop bridges as well on remaining 900-km stretch that will be developed in the second and the third phases.
Srivastava said such a request was made mainly to complete the project on time. "We have yet to carry out a survey to ascertain the number of bridges need to be constructed along the 900 km stretch. Survey will take time," he stated.
Besides, the ministry has assessed that the cost of constructing the bridges [on the 900 km section] will be very high and it will be difficult for the government to arrange funds from its own sources.
Tarai Road Project is the biggest project being developed under Indian assistance in recent years. The agreement was signed between the two countries in 2006. India has already allocated Rs 10 billion for the first phase construction work.
"Sadly, even after six years of the agreement, no substantial progress has been made in the project," Srivastav said.
As per the assistance agreement, Nepal needs to acquire land for the development and upgradation of link roads. However, officials said they are facing difficulties in land acquisition. “
"The pace of implementation of the first phase itself has remained slow because we have faced problems in land acquisition and in having environmental impact assessment report approved from the authorities concerned," Srivastava said.
Senior Nepali and Indian officials are also holding a bilateral meeting, reviewing the status and discuss future course of action of the project, on Wednesday. Akhilesh Mishra, joint secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is leading the Indian delegation.
The Nepali side is hopeful that the Indian side will respond positively to their request for bridges construction.