Causes and Effects of Delay in Building Construction: An Assessment on Organizational Building of Lekbeshi Municipality, Surkhet

Construction delays remain a major challenge, impacting cost, schedule, and project success. This study examined the status of ongoing building projects in Lekbeshi Municipality, identified key delay factors, and proposed mitigation strategies using a mixed-method approach including document analysis, key informant interviews, and statistical tools like Earned Value Analysis (EVA). Findings showed significant delays, with EVA revealing a Schedule Performance Index (SPI) of 0.89, indicating schedule overruns. Delay factors were grouped into labor/resource issues, coordination and political interference, and safety/environmental concerns. Stakeholder analysis highlighted varying concerns among clients, consultants, and contractors. The study recommends targeted interventions such as better procurement, monitoring, legal frameworks, and contractor training. Statistical tests like ANOVA confirmed differing stakeholder views, suggesting tailored solutions were needed. The study emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach and calls for future research into predictive models, digital tools, and policy reforms to improve public construction efficiency.