The government has secured a budget of over Rs 6 billion for the Karnali Corridor and is preparing to soon begin the contracting process for blacktop and bridge construction.
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The government has agreed to award a contract for the much-discussed Karnali Corridor (Khulalu-Hilsa) road, ensuring a budget of Rs 6.11 billion and 17 million.
In addition to the road sections that are already being awarded contracts, a budget of Rs 3.15 billion and 17 million has been awarded for the 41-kilometer upgrade of the Khulalu-Kot, Bhukka Khola-Piluchaur in Kalikot, and Tumcha-Sallisalla in Humla. Similarly, under the North-South Hilsa-Simkot Road Project, the Ministry of Finance has agreed to award a contract for the 60-kilometer upgrade of the 19-kilometer stretch from Kharpunath to Kharikhet and from Kharikhet to Sallisalla in Humla with a budget of Rs 2.33 billion and 7.3 million, said Bisundas Lama, head of the Khulalu-Sallisalla road project.
He said that the work will start soon by contracting as the resources have been ensured for the blacktop of the Karnali Corridor with two lanes. ‘This means that the Road Department has given its consent with certainty of resources,’ he said, ‘The contract will be awarded after the Road Department gives its approval to the Road Office.’
According to him, there is a budget of Rs 624.3 million for six road bridges over various rivers from Khulalu in Kalikot to Humla. In the absence of bridges, vehicles and freight vehicles are forced to cross the rivers at a risky rate. Bridges will be constructed at places such as Rahgad Khulalu Khola, Sannigad, Fugad, Bhukka Khola in Bajura, Quadi and others in the corridor.
The Road Department is already working through a contract at a cost of Rs 4 billion for the 50-kilometer upgrade of the Karnali Corridor from Piluchaur in Bajura to Kuwadi Khola in Humla. The Ministry of Finance has given the Road Department a resource agreement along with the assurance of resources for the implementation of the program. The Road Planning Office under the Road Department should complete the multi-year contract by the upcoming Ashar. Project Chief Lama said that the contract process will be moved forward so that all the work is completed within the next two years.
The Karnali Corridor, which is considered the lifeline of the people of Bajura and Karnali in the far west, took a decade and a half to open its track due to budget shortage and delay in work. The Nepali Army opened the track for 130 kilometers of the corridor, from Khulalu in Kalikot to Sallisalla in Humla, and 7 of the rocky sections above it. The Road Department has constructed 139 kilometers of the road through Humla to Hilsa through a contract, according to the Bajura-based Karnali Corridor Road Planning Office.
Out of the total length of 508 kilometers from Jamunaha in India to Hilsa in China, 347 kilometers of road from Khulalu to Hilsa are included. Due to the Fugad Hydropower project in Kalikot, which is located in the Karnali Corridor, some of the current roads will be submerged. Fugad Hydro has started a survey for a new track. Until another track is built in the submerged area, only maintenance work will be done, while preparations are underway to move forward with the contract process for upgrading the area, leaving the submerged area.
The assurance of a source of more than 6 billion for the Karnali Corridor is good news for the people of Karnali, said Jayapati Rokaya, MP representing Humla. ‘The Karnali Corridor is the gateway to prosperity in this region. After it is blacktopped, there will be increased activity here. Indian religious tourists will reach Mansarovar via this route,’ he said.
