Himal Press 
LUMBINI: The three-day march organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to exert pressure on the government to expedite the upgrade works on the Narayangadh-Butwal section of the East-West Highway concluded in Butwal on Wednesday.
A team of RSP, led by President Rabi Lamichhane, reached Butwal on Wednesday evening after covering the 113-km section during the three-way walk.
The march commenced from Pulchowk in Narayanghat on Monday.
Addressing reporters in Butwal, Lamichhane shared he experienced the hardships being faced by people traveling through the road section for nearly five years. He expressed a commitment to continue maintaining vigilance on the government’s works and activities. “This is a crime committed against our generation and era. We initiated this march as our generation has suffered a lot. This vigilance won’t stop,” he said.
Lamichhane also highlighted that the RSP would function as a watchdog on major infrastructure projects as part of its Mission 2027 campaign. He criticized government officials for subjecting road users to hardships while staying in air-conditioned chambers. We are working for the well-being of the people both on the streets and in the parliament. People will teach a lesson to those subjecting them to hardships,” he added.
RSP lawmakers Nisha Dangi, Manish Jha, Hari Dhakal, and other leaders and party members, along with the general public, joined the RSP team during the march.
The road upgrade project was awarded to contractors in March 2018, with a completion deadline of 42 months. The project has not gained momentum although it has nearly been five years since construction began. Due to poor conditions, motor vehicles take up to eight hours to traverse the 113-km road section.
The project is being implemented by dividing the 113-km section into two parts. The eastern part has achieved 44% progress, while progress on the western part stands at 39%.
