Rara trekking route, cycle lane projects left abandoned

By Harikrishna Aidi,Mugu, July 20: The construction of the Rara Tourism Trekking Route, one of Karnali Province's major tourism projects, has been left incomplete. The project, contracted to Khani Thodung Caravan Construction Pvt. Ltd., has stalled due to the company's negligence.

According to the Division Forest Office in Mugu, the project was awarded to the company in July 2022 under a budget of Rs. 452.91 million for the fiscal year 2021/22. The funding came from the federal government and the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Karnali Province. 

Chief of the Office Lalit Kumar Karn said the company received an advance payment of Rs. 80 million to start the work, but no significant progress has been made.

He added that although basic infrastructure has been built along the 14-kilometre route, poor-quality cement was used. Stones were carelessly scattered along the path, causing difficulties for visitors, said local Nanda Bahadur Rokaya. 

“We hear about many such development projects in the name of Rara, but nothing is implemented properly,” he said, adding that not only the company but also government agencies seem to lack seriousness.

Karn added that despite receiving the advance to purchase non-local materials and begin construction, the company has failed to meet expectations even after three years. “We have written to the company several times, but they have not responded,” he said.

Structures built with substandard cement have started to collapse and the office has instructed the company to remove them. He added, “It seems the company is only interested in exploiting state funds without doing the work. We have repeatedly sent letters to recover the funds, and we will now begin further legal action.”

Rup Bahadur Malla, coordinator of the district civil society, said delays in the project have also deprived locals of employment opportunities. He urged that if interest in the paid advance is not recovered, complaints should be filed against both the company and the concerned authority. Attempts to reach Chandra Thakali, the owner of the construction company, were unsuccessful.

Cycle lane neglected

Likewise, the Rara Tourism Infrastructure Cycle Lane project, handed to Shankar Malika Construction Pvt. Ltd., has remained incomplete since 2022. The Mugu Division Forest Office confirmed that a contract was signed, and the company received Rs. 10 million as an initial payment.

Local Dantalal Rokaya of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-9 said non-local materials like bricks and concrete have been left scattered. He blamed the contractor’s negligence for the lack of progress.

Lalit Kumar Karn, head of the Division Forest Office Mugu, said this multi-year project was supposed to be completed by 2025, but the contractor has not been in contact and no real work has been done so far.

Mahesh Neupane, Chief of Rara National Park, also said slow progress on infrastructure inside the park. He said that the timely completion of these facilities would make visits to Rara more convenient and increase tourist numbers in the future.