No More Excuses: Nepal Warns Chinese Contractor to Meet Deadlines or Face Termination

Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala issued a strong warning to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC), the contractor responsible for the Narayangadh-Butwal road extension project.

In a stern meeting held on Monday, Minister Jwala directed the Chinese company to ensure the timely completion of the project and emphasized that no further extensions to the deadline would be granted.

During the meeting attended by the Chinese contractor, the director general of the road department, MPs, and local people’s representatives, Minister Jwala stressed the urgency of adhering to the project’s schedule. He warned that any further delays would not be tolerated, and there is a possibility of terminating the contract.

Minister Jwala asserted, “Now, it is imperative that the work is completed on schedule. Any further delays will not be tolerated, and there is a possibility of terminating the contract. We cannot afford any setbacks in this project.”

MP Binod Chaudhary voiced concerns about the contractor’s commitment and urged the minister to ensure adherence to monthly targets. Chaudhary proposed deducting payments if the contractor fails to meet these targets and transferring responsibilities to another contractor if necessary.

Chaudhary stated, “It is no longer acceptable for the contractor company to repeatedly make commitments without fulfilling them. We must avoid delays and mobilize other contractors without filing a ‘damage claim’ against the non-compliant contractor.”

In addition, Chaudhary directed the contractor to promptly repair the Narayangadh-Butwal road, ensuring smooth vehicle travel, within a maximum of one month. The entire project is expected to be completed by September 2024, according to the imposed deadline.

Minister Jwala emphasized the need for the contractor to adhere to the terms of the contract, stating that the current conduct of the Chinese contractor is inconsistent with the agreement. He highlighted that conditions stipulated for road maintenance and the smooth flow of traffic are integral parts of the contract, even during the ongoing construction phase.

Additionally, Minister Jwala directed the contractor to prioritize the completion of the two-lane road during the paving process before proceeding with the remaining lanes. This directive aims to expedite the completion of critical sections of the road for immediate public use.

Deepak Bahadur Singh, Chairman of the Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Development Committee, expressed concerns about the contractors’ pace of work and questioned what the outcome would have been if they had worked at a similar speed in China. Singh criticized the contractor company for potentially tarnishing the reputation of Chinese contractors involved in international projects.