Road Department Director General Highlights Electricity Pole Relocation as Major Obstacle to Road Projects

Kathmandu. Director General of the Department of Roads, Dr. Vijay Jaisi, has stated that the relocation of electricity poles has become a major obstacle in road expansion and upgrading projects across the country. Speaking at a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Federal Parliament on Friday, Director General Jaisi informed that the lack of coordination with the Nepal Electricity Authority and the delay in moving poles have severely impacted development construction. He clarified that although the Department of Roads facilitates the installation of poles within the road's right of way, the Electricity Authority has not shown expected cooperation and promptness in removing those poles during road expansion. He further explained that the delays in projects are causing significant financial losses to the state. He mentioned that coordination is currently underway at the ministry level between the Electricity Authority and the Department of Roads, and efforts are being made to resolve the issue. He stated that projects are being affected due to delays from the Authority's side in the process of installing poles and providing wires. He also noted that the tendency of a single contractor to take up multiple contracts and cite a lack of manpower has also caused delays in work. Citing the Nagdhunga-Mugling road section as an example, Director General Jaisi said, 'Efforts have been underway for five years to move the poles, but 182 poles are still yet to be moved.' He added that the delay in moving poles gives contractors an excuse to delay work, and in some places, it has become necessary to pave the road with poles placed in the middle. 'When poles are not moved on time, contractors claim compensation,' he added, 'which results in the state having to pay millions of rupees unnecessarily.' Providing an update on the latest status of the roads, Director General Jaisi stated that important road sections such as Narayanghat-Butwal, Mugling-Pokhara, and Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel are now in the final stages of completion. He informed that the 'Signature Bridge' under construction over the Seti River in Pokhara is being built for the first time using new technology (extrados) with the design and leadership of Nepali technicians, and although it has taken some time, the work is progressing satisfactorily. He expressed the department's seriousness about the public facing hardships due to dust and mud caused by delays in road expansion and pledged to remove all obstacles and expedite the work.