Road still incomplete even in three decades

By Our Correspondent,Bulingtar (Nawalpur), Mar. 26: Locals are worried about the highway connecting the rural areas across the hills in Nawalparasi (East) with the district headquarters Kawasoti, about 200 km west of Kathmandu, that has remained under construction for the more than three decades. 

Bishnu Bir Jargha, Ward President of Buligantar Rural Municipality Ward No. 3, said that people in the area has no other choice but to make a risky travel to Kawasoti because the Daldale-Dhaubadi-Bulingatar-Baudikali road, which was started 31 years ago, has not been upgraded meeting the demand of modern transportation. 

The construction of the road was started with the aim to connect Buligantar and Baudikali Rural Municipality with Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki Province, told Jargha. 

Dharmaraj Basyal of Daldale said that the construction of the Daldale-Dhaubadi motorable road, which was started 31 years ago by an Australian citizen Barbara with her personal investment, has been caught speed at Arkhala to Daldale section. 

Min Bahadur Ale Magar, Ward Chairman of Buligantar-4, Arkhala, said that there is a hope that the road will be improved after 31 years.

This dillydallying in road construction and upgrading has increased troubles for the people in the area. But the project is contracted out at the cost of Rs. 1.65 billion. Basanta Pokharel, a local, expressed hope that the days of troubles would soon be over with the upgrading of the road that connects the district headquarters and provincial capital. 

Since the construction of this road of about 60 kilometres from Daldale and Kawasoti could not be completed, many people have died in road accidents every year and this number is increasing year after year. Likewise, they are facing troubles in accessing the health and education services. During the rainy season, the road becomes completely inaccessible. 

After this road is completed, it will connect the area with the Kaligandaki Corridor which will increase the connectivity and open market for locally produced agricultural goods and other items. 

Provincial MP Mahendra Dhowj GC said that the construction of the road will support the development works in the  hilly areas.