The work of the first phase (tunnel construction) was completed almost a year before the scheduled time, the second and third phase of the Bheri-Babai multi-purpose project has been delayed. The government has extended the deadline for the construction of the project of national pride till the financial year 2084/85.

The project which was initially started to be completed by 2079/80 has been extended for 5 years. But due to the delay in the work, there is doubt that the project will be completed in the specified time. 

The project which was supposed to be started by the government from the financial year 2068/69 was started only in 2071/72. In the first phase, China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC) was assigned to build the tunnel by 2076 Chait 15. But the company completed the 12.2 km long tunnel before the deadline. 

Looking at the current progress, it seems that the work will not be completed within the specified time, said Yagya Prasad Dhakal, the head of Bheriganga Municipality. "The government has allocated the budget, but there is not much work pressure at the project site," he said, "If the project is completed, it will greatly help the development of Karnali, so it is necessary for all parties to be involved so that it can be done on time." The agreement signed in October 2076 with the Iranian company Mahab Ghodes Consulting Engineering (MGCE), which is working as a consultant in the

project, was canceled in January 2079. As a result, the construction of the project was hindered.

The information officer of the project, Pawan Adhikari, said that 50 percent of the second phase and 40 percent of the third phase have been completed in Bheri-Babai. According to him, under the second phase of the project, construction of dam and powerhouse, hydro mechanical, electro mechanical connection and construction are being done. The senior divisional engineer officer said that the construction of headwalks is going on at Chipley in Surkhet. According to him, 2 of the 6 roads are in the final stages of construction.

 'Preparations are being made to divert the river for the construction of 4 other ways,' he said, 'Slope protection work has reached the final stage at the powerhouse construction site Hattikhola, similarly, we are also working on construction of foundation, coffered dam, anchor block etc.'

Raman/Guangdong JV has taken over the second phase of work. Ran Bahadur Bam, head of the project, said that 1 billion 77 million rupees were allocated for the project for the current financial year. According to him, 66 percent material progress has been made in the project so far. He informed that 150 people are working daily at the project site.

A dam is being built on the Bheri River at Chipley in the Bheriganga Municipality of Surkhet and the Bheri water will be pumped into the Babai River on the border of Surkhet and Bardia through a tunnel and work is being done with the plan to generate about 46 megawatts of electricity. The project aims to provide irrigation facilities to around 51,000  lands in Banke and Bardia. Due to Corona, the work of the project has been affected for almost 2 years.

  About 51 percent financial progress has been achieved in the estimated cost of 33 billion 196 million. Out of which 16.96 billion rupees have been spent so far. Chief Bam said that the project work was also delayed due to problems in the construction of dams on the river due to last year's floods. "If there are no obstacles, all the work is ready to be completed within the next three years," said Bam, the head of the project. The government plans to connect the electricity produced by the