The construction of two major projects, Nagadhunga-Sisnekhola Tunnel and Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion, is almost at a standstill. Although the work of these projects has been stopped due to various reasons, the government has not been able to solve the problem and move it forward. Work has been stopped in Nagadhunga for 27 days.

The locals have obstructed the work saying that the demand that has been fulfilled by the final stage of the construction project should be managed. But neither the government agencies have taken the initiative to solve the problem nor the locals have facilitated it. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport is silent when the work of such a big project is stopped. If the tunnel is made fast, passengers will get rid of the daily traffic jams in Nagadhunga. 

Last October, a landslide occurred in the Jhaple river on the border of Kathmandu-Dhading and traffic was stopped. Passengers stranded on the road were rescued from the Nagadhunga-Sisnekhola tunnel under construction. 35 people died when the landslide carried the parked micro and passenger bus into the Jhaple River. The risk of landslides has not abated for the coming monsoon. 

The tunnel work was completed quickly and the passengers did not have to face the landslide around the Jhaple river. However, the construction has not been able to accelerate due to the fact that the locals have repeatedly obstructed the construction of the tunnel. It is certain that the construction of the tunnel will not be completed before the coming monsoon. About 10,000 vehicles pass through Nagadhunga every day. But due to frequent obstacles in the construction, the completion time of the project is being pushed back. 

Locals have not allowed to work since Chait 3. Now the work has been stopped on both Kathmandu and Dhading. Sanjay Panthi, Senior Divisional Engineer of Nagadhunga-Tunnel Construction Project, said that the problem arose when the locals did not come even after calling for talks several times. "They have not come instead of coming to the talks by sending a letter, we are trying to solve the problem through talks," he said, "We are in the process of discussing with the road department about how to proceed with the construction." If the builders claim compensation for the period of work stoppage, there is a risk that the government will have to pay the daily rate of around 5 million. Lavram Subedi, ward member of Ward No. 2 in Chandragiri Municipality, claims that the project was not completed even after the demand was not met.   This has happened because the problem that is happening in the

ward has not been solved,' he said, 'We have sent a letter and informed the concerned authorities about the demands of the locals. Let's find a solution to the problem through

talks, no local people came before we came to the talks, now we are ready to start the work after arranging security at the construction site  : Ramhari Pokharel Director General, Road Department 

Subedi says that there is a problem when the ministers are changing rapidly and they are not aware of the demands of the locals. After the water sources have dried up, the project has now provided water. But he said that he could not afford to pay all the fees as he had to pay them in the future. "If the government was serious about the demands of the locals, there would be no problem," he said.

Even if the project leader is changing rapidly, it is difficult to solve the problems that appear in the project immediately. Now the project is leaderless. After project chief Gyanendra Kumar Jha was transferred to Suryavinayak-Dhulikhel road project, Nagadhunga-Tunnel construction project became leaderless. Work was underway to bring the tunnel into operation by October 2082. But in the meantime, the problem has been added after the locals obstructed the work. 

Currently, lighting, ventilation, construction of concrete road inside the tunnel are in the final stage. The flyover, which is in the final stages of construction in Kisipdi area in Balambu, is also at a standstill. The residents of Chandragiri-2 Tutipakha have put forward a demand that the ongoing programs or projects should be continued through the project or should be conducted through the road department.

Ramhari Pokharel, director general of the road department, said that despite being called repeatedly for talks, the locals did not come. "Nobody came to the talks, let's find a solution to the problem," he said.

Since the construction started, the locals of both Dhading and Kathmandu districts have been obstructing the work time and again.

The physical progress of the tunnel, which started on November 4, 2076, is 87 percent. The emergency tunnel is 2,557 meters long while the main tunnel is 2,688 meters long. The Japanese company Hazma Endo Corporation is working on the construction of the tunnel. The total contract amount of the project is 22 billion rupees, which includes a concessional loan of 16 billion rupees from Japan and an investment of 6 billion rupees from the Government of Nepal.

Even after one year of tunnel bursting in Sunkoshi-Marin, the construction of the dam has not been able to accelerate. Two years after the construction of the dam, the progress is only 8 percent. If this project is completed quickly, along with the generation of 31.07 megawatts of electricity, irrigation facilities will reach 1.22 thousand hectares of Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha in Terai. The 'break through' of the tunnel was aimed to be done within 22 months, but it was done on 081 Baisakh 26, 19 months after the start of construction. Currently, the tunnel finishing work is 97 percent complete. After the completion of the finishing work, the project will have a trial period of one and a half years. Its contract was taken by Patel-Raman JV in January 079 to be completed within 55 months. 

We are not satisfied with the contractor's work, we have repeatedly sent letters asking them to increase the progress, we have sat and discussed, even now there is no option to break the contract if the progress is not increased: Sanjeev Baral, Director General, Water Resources and Irrigation Department

Even though two construction companies have taken a joint contract for the construction of the dam, Raman Construction is doing the work. But Badri Karki, head of the Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project, said that the speed of dam construction is slow. He says that even in eight percent of the progress, there is no permanent structure construction work. "After discussing with Patel-Raman JV, the company that took the contract, we have come to the conclusion that Raman cannot work," said project head Karki, "Now there is no option to break the contract and take action."  He said that since

is only a slow weed control, it has been informed at the ministry level. According to Karki, a conclusion will be reached after the on-site monitoring of the dam construction site from the ministry level. He says that after the project reached the conclusion of breaking the contract, Patel came in contact and said that he would work. The project said that it will not be allowed to work in the current state unless the commitment is made to speed up the work.

Director General of Water Resources and Irrigation Department Sanjeev Baral said that there is no option to break the contract if the construction company does not make progress even after giving opportunities. "Construction professionals should work according to schedule, we are not satisfied with the current work," he said. He said that the bank was asked to withdraw Rs 20 crore as there was no progress in the work as promised. Pawan Mahato, director of Raman Construction, claims that the construction of the dam has started to pick up speed. The flood of last October caused great damage to the dam construction site. He said that it took time to clean the dam construction site because of the muddy soil, "Now 350 cubic meters of concrete is being poured under the river a day."