Kathmandu, Jan. 8 -- Three years after the Nagdhunga-Naubise-Malekhu-Muglin road widening project began, electricity poles are finally being removed from construction sites.

Delays in clearing the poles have slowed work, with construction on stretches with poles coming to a halt. Awarding contracts without completing preparatory work left pole relocation and compensation issues unresolved.

The Nepal Electricity Authority and other government agencies have blamed each other for the delays. Contractors say problems arose because contracts were awarded before preparatory work was completed, despite the project being funded through a concessional World Bank loan.

On the first 12.26 km Nagdhunga-Naubise section, second-layer paving is compl...