Karnali Corridor opens after 14 days

By Our Correspondent,Kalikot, May 29: With the completion of necessary repair works along the Khulalu-Salisalla section, the Karnali Corridor has come into operation in full phase from Saturday. The section was closed for 14 days for the repair.  

According to authorities, vehicular movement was restricted along the section to fill two big potholes near the concrete bridge over the Karnali River in Khulalu area.

“The two holes were buried under the plain cement concrete (PCC) technology. Even big vehicles have started plying the corridor through the repaired section now,” said Jora Singh Majhi, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kalikot.

According to CDO Majhi, they opted for an easier medium of repair through the PCC medium.“It would have taken at least 28 days to repair the potholes with the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) system,” said CDO Majhi.

For the past 14 days, locals of five local levels of Kalikot alongside those of Bajura, Mugu, and Humla districts were unable to travel via the corridor.However, locals are now elated after the resumption of vehicular movement. 

“I could not bring construction materials for my house for the past week. Now, the materials are on the way,” said Janga Bahadur Pharsal, a local of Raskot.

Meanwhile, Jumla-based Road Division Office informed that no contractors showed interest to repair the road in the bidding opened by the office as the section was risky. 

According to the office, since no contractors showed interest in the repair, they did it themselves.

However, locals argued that the corridor still had risky sections as the roads are in a dilapidated condition as well as narrow.

“The repaired section was one of such risky sections,” said Pharsal.