Dhulikhel-Khawa Road Upgrade Slows as Material Shortage Hits Final Stretch

Work to upgrade and blacktop the Dhulikhel-Khawa road section of the Araniko Highway has entered its final stage, but progress has slowed sharply because of a shortage of construction materials. The delay is creating fresh headaches for local residents and passengers who are still dealing with dust, congestion, and difficult travel conditions.

According to the Road Division Office Bhaktapur, the project had already been pushed forward through traffic restrictions and urgent paving work, with the aim of completing the remaining sections quickly. Earlier notices showed that the office had moved to accelerate blacktopping by restricting vehicles on the road for long hours at night, underscoring how important the stretch is for daily movement in Kavrepalanchowk and surrounding areas.

Why the delay matters

The Dhulikhel-Khawa section is a key part of the Araniko Highway, one of the main corridors connecting Kathmandu Valley with eastern routes. When work slows on this stretch, the impact is immediate: traffic builds up, road dust becomes a constant problem, and travel times increase for both local residents and long-distance passengers.

The Road Division Office Bhaktapur had previously announced closures and traffic bans to speed up paving and expansion work, showing that the project was already under pressure to finish after long delays. The latest slowdown suggests that even near-completion infrastructure projects can be vulnerable when material supply chains fail to keep pace with construction schedules.

From delay to disruption

This road section has faced repeated setbacks over time, including earlier delays linked to contractor performance. Now, even as the project approaches completion, shortages of construction material have become the next obstacle.

For commuters, that means the road remains both a construction zone and a traffic bottleneck. For nearby communities, it means continued exposure to dust and the daily inconvenience that comes with unfinished roadwork.

What comes next

The big question is whether material supplies can be restored quickly enough to keep the project moving. If the shortage is resolved soon, the remaining work could be completed without much further delay. If not, the final phase of blacktopping may drag on and extend the hardships already being felt along the corridor.

For now, the Dhulikhel-Khawa upgrade stands as a reminder that in road construction, the last mile can sometimes be the hardest one.