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Construction delays along the Maldhunga–Balewa section of the national pride Kaligandaki Corridor have continued to cause difficulties for travelers, with a key portion of the road still awaiting blacktopping years after the contract was awarded.

Of the 34-kilometer Baglung section of the corridor, 24 kilometers have been blacktopped, while the remaining 10 kilometers remain unfinished. The delay in upgrading the road has affected residents of southern Baglung as well as tourists traveling to Muktinath Temple.

The contract for blacktopping the road section was awarded five years ago, with the work originally scheduled to be completed within two years. Although the deadline was extended again in May last year, construction has yet to be finished, drawing criticism from local residents and road users.

Engineer Homanath Poudel of the Kaligandaki Corridor Project Office warned that action would be taken against the contractor if the work is not completed within the current fiscal year.

The contract for the road upgrade was awarded at a cost of Rs 481.26 million.

Contractor Dinbandhu Kafle acknowledged that a lack of budget had slowed progress on the project. He said efforts would be intensified by mobilizing additional workers and equipment to complete the remaining work within the stipulated timeframe.