Beni: So far, 85 percent of the work on the Beni-Jomsom-Korala section of the Kaligandaki Corridor has been completed under the North-South Trade Route Expansion Project. Except for the nine projects added in the current fiscal year, the overall physical progress of the section has reached 85 percent, the Project has stated.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Information Officer of Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project Bishnu Chapagain reported that 85 percent physical progress has been made towards upgrading the road and 84 percent towards construction of bridges and culverts. He noted that the construction of this national pride project, connecting the northern Korala border transit point, commenced in the fiscal year 2016/17.
Chapagain further detailed that seven big and small roads have been blacktopped while six roads have been graveled under the road expansion project. The blacktopping and upgrading of the road have been completed in seven phases, including Beni Kalipul, Beni Galeshwor, Tatopani to Kaiku, Kaiku to Kowang, and Jomsom Kagbeni section of Myagdi.
He added that work on the Jomsom-Korala section has been completed in six phases, and the graveling work on 25 kilometers of the Charang-Chhoser section is in its final stage. A contract was signed for blacktopping 105-km road, of which 75-km blacktopping has been completed. Similarly, out of the 110 km Jomsom-Korala section, gravelling has been completed on 90 km of the road, according to the Project Office.
Of the 19 bridges that were to be constructed under the Project, 14 have already been completed while the rest are under construction, said Chapagain, the information officer at the Project Office. Of the 14 bridges completed, nine were constructed in the Mustang section and five in the Myagdi section.