Decade-Long Delay Plagues Kathmandu Valley Pedestrian Overpass Projects

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Decade-Long Delay Plagues Kathmandu Valley Pedestrian Overpass Projects

Decade-Long Delay Plagues Kathmandu Valley Pedestrian Overpass Projects

Ecosphere News Correspondent 2026-06-06 13:15:00

Kathmandu, Nepal - Three pedestrian overpasses planned along some of the busiest sections of the Kathmandu Valley Ring Road remain incomplete nearly a decade after construction contracts were awarded, raising serious concerns over infrastructure governance, project management, and public safety.
The pedestrian bridges, located at Balkhu in Kathmandu and Sanepa and Mahalaxmisthan in Lalitpur, were originally expected to be completed within approximately one year of contract signing in 2017 (2074 B.S.). However, despite eight deadline extensions and preparations for a ninth extension, none of the structures has been fully completed. Authorities report that overall physical progress has reached only about 70 percent.
The prolonged delays have highlighted persistent weaknesses in Nepal’s public infrastructure sector, including poor coordination among responsible agencies, ineffective project monitoring, and repeated deadline extensions for contractors without timely completion of work.
At all three sites, only the pillars and ramps of the overpasses have been largely completed, while the remaining construction work has yet to be finalized. The delay is particularly concerning because these locations experience heavy pedestrian traffic. With no completed overpasses available, many people continue to cross the eight-lane Ring Road at ground level, exposing themselves to significant safety risks amid fast-moving traffic.
According to officials of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project, construction activities are still ongoing. Project Chief Engineer Ashika Pokharel stated that bridge components, including railings and other structural materials, are currently being fabricated in factories before installation at the sites. She expressed confidence that the remaining work would be completed by the end of the current Nepali month of Asar.
Project records show that the Balkhu overpass contract was signed on 14 September 2017 at a cost of approximately Rs. 40.67 million. Similarly, the Mahalaxmisthan and Sanepa overpasses were contracted in July 2017 with project costs exceeding Rs. 43.24 million and Rs. 41.92 million respectively. All three projects have already exceeded their latest completion deadlines, which expired in Chaitra 2082.
The construction companies involved had received 20 percent of the total contract amounts as site mobilization advances shortly after the agreements were signed.
The pedestrian overpasses were originally envisioned as part of a broader plan to improve safety and accessibility along the expanded Ring Road by constructing crossing facilities at roughly one-kilometre intervals. The need for such infrastructure became increasingly important after the expansion of the eight-lane roadway, where higher vehicle speeds have increased risks for pedestrians.
Infrastructure experts argue that the delays reflect deeper systemic problems in Nepal’s development sector. Engineer Rajendra Sharma noted that weak regulatory oversight and the practice of repeatedly extending deadlines under political influence have slowed infrastructure development across the country. He warned that such delays not only hinder public service delivery but also impose significant financial burdens on the state through escalating project costs.
The situation has prompted broader questions about accountability in public infrastructure development. Observers argue that if projects in the federal capital face such prolonged delays, the condition of infrastructure projects in other parts of the country may be even more concerning.
As thousands of pedestrians continue to navigate these busy road sections daily, the completion of the long-delayed overpasses remains a matter of public safety and growing public interest.

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