In the current financial year, after the budget was over, the work was stopped in April, after recently receiving Rs.
Sometimes the work of Mahakali Corridor has been stopped due to lack of budget and sometimes the problem of tree cutting. Even in the current financial year, the work was stopped in May after the budget was exhausted. Recently, after receiving 10 crores, Zenten is opening some track and some is upgrading it.
The Mahakali Corridor Plan for the next financial year had asked for a budget of one and a half billion along with regular work to upgrade the road. But Ramchandra Jaisi, engineer of the plan, said that only 24 crores have been allocated in the red book. "The track is still to be opened in some places, there is also lack of budget to continue the successive contracts," Jaisi said, "The work was stopped in April due to the lack of budget, now the work is going on after some budget has been released."
From Brahmadev in Kanchanpur to Tusarpani in Darchula, out of 334 km, the track is yet to be opened in 54 km. About 27 km of track is yet to be opened in Dadeldhura, 9 in Baitadi and 18 km in Darchula. So far, about 5 km of road has been paved. The work is going on with the contract for black paper at various places.
Work is going on for black paper in Malikarjun and Khalanga-Hikila sections of Darchula. Under the Mahakali Corridor Plan, out of 334 km from Brahmadev in Kanchanpur to Tusarpani in Darchula, 11 km in Kanchanpur, 58 in Dadeldhura, 144 in Baitadi and 121 km in Darchula. The work of opening the track on the 79 km road section from Tusarapani to Tinkar is being done by the Nepali Army.
The government is promoting the Mahakali Corridor as a strategic road. But there is a lack of annual budget. Residents and public representatives of this area have been protesting against the lack of budget from time to time. It has been more than a decade and a half since the discussion of Mahakali Corridor started. In every election, this topic becomes the main election agenda. During the election, the leaders have been promoting the slogan of connecting Kanchanpur's Dodhara Chandni to Taklakot through Tinker of Darchula.
Corridor is being constructed to connect not only the Mahakali coast to Darchula but also the northern area of Darchula which is outside the road network. It will also shorten the distance for the residents of Mahakali coastal area to reach Terai. "This year too, due to lack of budget, the work did not go according to the target, it seems that the same will happen next year as well," said Engineer Jaisi, "If the budget was allocated as per the demand, the speed of the work could have been increased."
