Kaligandaki Corridor section remains incomplete for eight years

By Thakur Prasad Ahcarya,Myagdi, May 22: The Charang-Chhoser road section of the Kaligandaki Corridor is at an abandoned stage. The 25-kilometre road section has not been completed even eight years after its construction contract was awarded.

Kaligandaki Corridor (Beni-Jomsom-Korola) Road Project awarded the contract to Tamang-Gauri-Parbati-Koshi and Neupane JV at Rs. 260 million in 2015.

The contractor had to upgrade the Charang-Chhoser road section connecting Charang of Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality and Chhoser of Lomanthang Rural Municipality within three years. 

Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairman Tashi Nharbu Gurung said that the road project could not be completed due to negligence on the part of the contractors. 

He informed that the project which was supposed to be completed in three years, had not been finished even in eight years. 

Due to lack of proper road, tourists visiting Lomanthang and Korola borders have been facing difficulties. Chairman Gurung said, "Along with travellers, traffic has been affected due to dusty and narrow road. 

Meanwhile, construction of drainage and a canal is still pending in Charang and cutting and finishing works are yet to be completed in other areas. Additionally, construction materials piled up along the roadside have caused inconveniences to  pedestrians."

Dhurba Jha, head of the Kaligandaki Corridor (Beni-Jomsom-Korola) Road Project, informed that the physical progress of the project was at 80 per cent. The project includes widening the 11-kilometre road and constructing drainage and walls, he added.

He informed that no progress was seen despite multiple written and verbal requests to the contractor to resume the work were made.