Kathmandu. Geologist Prof Dr Ranjan Kumar Dahal warned that if the upgradation of Naubise-Muglin road was not completed within a year, it would cause a big crisis in economy, supply system, tourism and livelihood of the country.
According to Dahal, road widening works have not yet begun in many sections, works have been halted in some places and in some parts the hills have been cut and left incomplete. Such incompletely cut slopes are at risk of major landslides, landslides and road blockages in the coming monsoon. The situation is particularly vulnerable due to geologically weak rocks, old landslides, excessive rainfall and river erosion in the Naubise-Malekhu-Muglin area.
According to Dahal, if the road is disrupted for a long time, it will not only affect the passengers but also on food, fuel, construction materials, medicines and trade supplies in the Kathmandu Valley. “This could affect the capital’s economy,” Dahal said.
Dahal said that the government’s policy related to this road section should be proactive rather than reactive. “There is a need to immediately declare the Naubise-Muglin road corridor as an “Infrastructure Crisis Management Special Campaign” and bring a special programme,” he said in a Facebook post. ’
According to Dahal, the government should help the construction companies to complete the works by resolving the problems, not by criticizing them. Many construction companies are facing severe labour shortages, cash flow problems, bank guarantees, late payments, and increased fuel and material costs.
Today, most of the construction companies in Nepal have the same problem: ‘lack of manpower’. There is plenty of work, but there are no skilled and unskilled workers. Thousands of youths have gone abroad. Stating that it would be appropriate for the government to immediately bring a national ‘Labour Bank’ program for this, he has also recommended a list of 6 works that the government can do immediately:
- Emergency Registration of 10,000 Skilled and Unskilled Workers
- Creation of Digital Shramik Bank by the Government
- Construction companies can order workers through mobile app
- Transparent payment system through QR payment
- Immediately mobilize unemployed youths in coordination with the local level
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{{TAG_OPEN_li_27}Insurance, security and minimum wages for workers
According to Dahal, if these 6 initiatives are possible from the government, it will simultaneously benefit three national pride road projects, create employment for youths and revive the sluggish economy of the construction sector. If there is a financial problem, the government should create a special ‘infrastructure assistance concession’ and arrange for concessional loans, collateral assistance or interim financial management through banks. The incomplete project is the biggest economic loss in the country.
Dahal says, “The need of the hour is not accusations and counter-accusations, but emergency coordination. The government, construction companies, banks, local governments, security agencies and technical experts should all be included in the same directive framework. ’
The Naubise-Muglin road is not just a road for the Nepali people but also an economic artery of Nepal. It will take another 5 years if the road construction is carried out at the current pace. If this road is not safe and stable, the economic and social of the capital will be at risk. For the last 70 years, there has been no proper road to Kathmandu. Now is not the time to delay the decision. Image source: Prada Dahal’s Facebook page
