Although the project falls under the BRI cooperation framework, how the process of upgradation will proceed is yet to be finalised
The Koshi Corridor road construction, which is a project of national pride, is slow. The opening of the track has not yet been completed. Although this project started from the financial year 2065/66, the road is limited to gravel level. Preparations are being made for black paper.
Corridor road construction has been started from Khandbari, the headquarter of Sankhuwasabha, to the north, connecting the Chinese border to Kimathanka, the distance of which is 162 km. But so far its construction progress is only 40 percent.
When Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited China on November 17, the project was also placed under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During that time, the 'BRI Cooperation Framework' was also signed between the high officials of the two countries. Although this project falls within the framework, how the process of upgrading will proceed is not yet finalized. The Nepal government has been asking China to upgrade it with a grant.
But what loans or grants China will support, has not yet been decided. It has been requested to build a concrete bridge along the border along with the upgrading of the road. Now a contract has been signed to cover a distance of 50 km from Living Hill to Noom.
"Now the work of placing the base and sub-base is going on," said Bhattarai, "After that the black paper work will start." But the black paper work is being delayed. The problem has arisen when the builders are not working. 39 km out of 50 km, Sharma & Co.-Shiva Shakti JV has taken the contract of black sheeting in the amount of 1 billion 27 crore 88 lakh.
It is divided into three packages. Shivshakti did not work initially but Sharma & Company is doing it. Similarly, the contract of 11 km was taken by Singh and Brothers-Dragon-Vivash International JV for 552 million. But there is no progress if the builders do not work in that section.
Although Vivash International took over the work, the contract was broken because the contractor was not in contact, said Ram Bahadur Gurung, head of the Koshi Corridor (Khandbari-Kimathanka) road plan. "We are looking for a contractor who will not work, we have set a target of paving 30 km of roads in the current financial year," he said, "There is a problem to work due to lack of construction materials, fast and heavy rains."
Senior Divisional Engineer Bhattarai said that the road was constructed on gravel level at 30 km from Faxinga to Varunbazar. The black sheet work is yet to start in this section. "A contract has been signed for the gravelling of the 57.49 km section from Varunbazar to Chamtang," he said, "and the road will be widened and its work will be carried forward."
The work of opening the track in Chamtang to Ghonghappa section is being done by the Nepali Army. The Army was tasked with opening the track on a 10.51 km section out of 162 km. Now only 1.40 km of track remains to be opened. The army aims to open the rest of the tracks by the end of June.
From Ghonghappa to Kimathanka, 14 km track opening work has been completed. Bhattarai said that the black paper contract is pending. "For its upgrading, the BRI cooperation is within the framework, after discussing how to proceed and at what level, a detailed project report will be made," he said, "to make it a designated double lane road." was requested. But it could not be signed to be implemented.
'Even though the Nepal government is going to do the black paper work on some sections, the rest can be done with China's grant,' said Bhattarai, 'after deciding how to work with the help of China, we can proceed accordingly.'
The initial cost of this project The estimate is 16 billion rupees. So far 5 billion 58 billion rupees have been spent. Even though it is said to be completed within 2083/84, the construction progress has not reached 50 percent yet.
This road connecting eastern Nepal with Kimathanka border has been prioritized by the government as it will increase the import and export trade and have a positive effect on the economy. It will be easy to travel to Arun 3rd, Upper Arun, Lower Arun Power Station through this corridor road.
Former Secretary Arjunjung Thapa says that this road is very important from a commercial point of view. 'This road connects the banks of the Arun River to Kimathan, a concrete bridge should be built across the Arun River to reach China,' Thapa said, 'It should be widened in some places as it is only a track for people to walk on.' He suggested that he would complete the remaining 100 km and upgrade the remaining 100 km from the Chinese government.
