Surkhet, April 8 -- Civil works under the second phase of the National Pride Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project have missed their deadline for the third time, with only 57 percent physical progress achieved so far.

A joint venture of Raman Construction and China's Guangdong Yuantian had taken the contract in August 2019, with a four-year deadline and a budget of Rs6.16 billion. The deadline was first extended in 2023 by one year and again last September for seven months. The latest deadline expired on Friday.

The contractor has now sought a fourth extension of around three years and four months, project director Haridatta Paudel said. He said delays were initially attributed to the pandemic and later to shortages of construction...