August 9: The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport backtracked from its decision to build an alternative to Mugling-Narayanghat road across the Trishuli river.

The plan forwarded by the ministry to use the road across the Trishuli river due to the frequent disruption of the main road has been put on hold due to lack of budget.

The Mugling-Narayanghat road section, a vital road link to the capital, has been frequently obstructed by landslides during the rainy season.

The proposed plan requires budget for construction of road infrastructure as well as compensation for land acquisition.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport withdrew its decision to implement this road construction project after the Ministry of Finance did not ensure the resources saying that the government will have to spend more money on compensation than the construction of the road.

Joint Secretary Arjun Jung Thapa informed New Business Age that about Rs 20 billion will be needed to build the proposed road and give compensation. However, due to a lack of budget, the ministry has now 'dropped' the road construction plan, he said.

Although the World Bank had pledged to support the construction of this 37-kilometre (km) road, the government on its part had to contribute for the distribution of compensation.

Thapa said that the ministry backtracked its decision to implement the plan after it was estimated that more that Rs 10 billion would be required for compensation.

"The government is not in a position to build roads by spending billions of rupees on compensation," said Thapa.

The Department of Roads has already prepared a preliminary design for this road. Although the design has been prepared in collaboration with the rural municipality of the concerned area, no further work has been done on the track plan.

Thapa said that the cost is expected to be much higher because more motorable bridges will have to be built on this road.