November 3: The work of upgrading the Kailali-Kanchanpur road section under the Postal Highway, a national pride project, has been sluggish in recent years thanks to the insufficient budget.    
The contractors have been blamed for delaying the construction of the road. Only 31 kilometres of the road have been upgraded in the Kailali section four years after beginning the work.

The total length of the road is 69 kms from the Mohana bridge of Dhangadhi in Kailali to Satti Khakraula. Road upgradation is ongoing in the remaining section, said the Postal Highway Project Office in Dhangadhi.    
Out of 29.5 km road from Lamkichuha in Kailali to Satti Khakraula through Tikapur bazaar area (north south), eight km has been blacktopped. Road upgradation remains from Tikapur to Khakraula. Potholes have developed in the single lane road in the area causing difficulties in transportation, complained the locals.    
Out of 62 km road from Dokebazaar in Kanchanpur to Daiji bazaar through Belauri, 38 km has been blacktopped in seven years. The section from Dokebazaar to Belauri has been blacktopped while many parts from Belauri to Darji through Beldandi are yet to be tarred.    
In the previous fiscal year, budget worth Rs 750 million was allocated for upgrading the road. In the current FY, 2023/24, Rs 400 million has been allocated. For upgrading the Kailali section, the contract was awarded in the FY, 2076/77 BS and of the Kanchanpur section in the FY 2073/74. -- RSS