Nepal

Summary:
The Mid-Hill Highway (Pushpalal Highway), constructed to last at least 40 years, is already showing serious damage just four years after completion. The RCC (reinforced cement concrete) structures built in the Jaharkot area of Dailekh district have started to deteriorate. Specifically, the RCC on the uphill section near Chamghat Khola is coming apart, exposing steel rods and disrupting traffic.

The construction company, Motidan, is blamed for using poor-quality materials and workmanship. Despite the highway being designed with durable RCC layers to withstand long-term use, defects appeared early on due to these lapses. The Highway Planning Office in Dailekh has issued a repair contract, but doubts remain about the quality of repair work.

Local leaders and residents express concern about the lack of proper supervision and accountability from both the contractor and planning office. They emphasize that technical staff and contractors from the original construction phase should be held responsible.

Additionally, the asphalt (blacktop) surfaces in Dailekh are also reported to be of poor quality, causing further road degradation.

The Highway Planning Office states they have awarded repair contracts and acknowledge multiple factors could cause road damage, but stress that such roads shouldn’t fail so quickly.

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