Work on Mid Hill Highway gains momentum

Thakur Senehang Tehrathum, June 10: Work on the Pushpalal Mid Hill Highway, a project of national pride, has moved ahead rapidly in Province 1, especially in Tehrathum district. The construction of this project has gained momentum as the direction and monitoring from the responsible administrative sector have been continued in this section.

The project is being expanded to an area of 119 kilometers in Tehrathum district. These days, the widening work of the road from Basantapur to Myanglung Bazaar has gained momentum, with the Myanglung-Basantapur road section being tarred. The locals are happy as it has become easier to travel on a black-topped road. Khem Limbu of Myanglung Municipality-5 said that he was overjoyed after the locals started paving the road section every year. He added, "Now that the rainy season has started, the work is mired in problems."

The road from Basantapur to Myanglung Bazaar covering a distance of 26 km is being paved in three sections, including 10 km from Basantapur to Lasune and 11 km from Lasune to JiriKhimti Bazaar. The result is that 21 km has been tarred until now in total. Driver Dinesh Bhattarai said that he was able to drive safely after the road was tarred. He added that due to the pathetic condition of the road, millions of rupees are lost every year.

The Ministry of Finance had allocated a budget of Rs. 2.07 billion for the upgradation and blacktopping of the road. The first section covering a distance of 10 km has been blacktopped by Kalika Bhaveshwar JB Construction in Basantapur-Lasune and the second covering a distance of 10.4 km by Ashish Asraya JV Construction Services in Lasune-Jiri Khimti-Bagale section.  According to Dinesh Shrestha, contract manager of Amar Majanaki JV Construction Company, the work of laying the foundation and blacktopping in some places have been intensified. "Now that the rainy season has started, there are common problems at work," he said. 

The highway was in bad condition as it was under construction from Chiwabhanjyang of Panchthar to Jhulaghat of Baitadi, because of which the locals and passengers suffered a lot.  However, the situation has been changing for the better since the construction work resumed. According to Dilli Regmi, a local, the blacktopping has facilitated medical treatment, transportation of goods, and movement. "Mid Hill Highway has proved to be a milestone in the development of the Tehrathum district."

The government had introduced the concept of the expansion of the Mid-Hill Highway with the aim of providing easier travel in the hilly districts of Nepal. As the highway touches most of the hilly districts, the headquarters are considered important to facilitate transportation of goods.

Among them are Phidim of Panchthar, Basantapur of Tehrathum, Khurkot of Sindhuli, Baireni of Dhading, Dumre of Tanahu, Burtibang of Baglung, Chaurjahari of Rukum, Rakam Karnali of Dailekh, Sanfebagar of Achham and Patan of Baitadi. The much talked-about Mid Hill Highway, which is 1,765 km long and connects 24 districts, was started in fiscal year 2007/08. The highway will connect 225 settlements to the road network and will directly benefit more than 7 million people.