Myagdi, June 11: The Beni-Jomsom-Korara road project of the Kali Gandaki Corridor has achieved 80 percent physical progress in eight years.
The road infrastructure connecting Triveni along the Nepal-India border with the Korala border point in China is considered the “fate line” of Gandaki Zone and is crucial for infrastructural, economic, trade, hydropower, tourism and religious development.
The project was launched in 2073 with an objective to upgrade the 202 km road from Maldunga (Parbat) to Korala border point (Mustang) via Myagdi and construct bridges over streams along the road.
Project director Dhruva Kumar Jha said the actual progress of the project till mid-second week of June was 80 per cent.
The road, estimated to cost Rs 10 billion, was scheduled to be completed in FY 2079/80. As the subject works could not be completed within the stipulated time, the project period was extended up to FY 2082/83.
Project director Jha said Rs 6 billion has been spent so far against the Rs 7 billion contract for construction of roads and bridges. “Of the paving target of 105 km, 48 km of roads have been paved, five km cemented and 85 km graveled,” he said.
He said contracts have been signed for 19 of the 24 vehicular bridges planned to be built along the road. “Construction of 10 bridges has been completed and five are underway,” he said, adding that contracts for four bridges have been terminated and contracts for five bridges are yet to be signed.
