Bardiya, March 29 -- The completion of the Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project, a national pride initiative in mid-western Nepal, has been delayed by four more years. Originally slated to complete in 2024, the project has achieved only 51 percent physical progress.

The government invited bids for construction in July 2012. However, resource constraints and delays in appointing a contractor prevented the four-year project from commencing on schedule.

Construction finally began in April 2015 when then-prime minister Sushil Koirala broke ground. The diversion tunnel, a key project component, was completed on April 16, 2019, six months ahead of schedule.

The tunnel was built by China Overseas Engineering Group and China Railway No 2...