Myagdi:It is estimated to cost around Rs 70 million to reconstruct the Beni-Darbang-Muna road in Myagdi, which was severely damaged by floods, landslides, and river erosion.
According to National News Agency RSS, the road connecting the western Myagdi municipalities of Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri to the district headquarters Beni experienced significant damage following continuous rainfall during last September 23-27. The Infrastructure Development Office of Myagdi reported that around 22 locations on the road from Beni to Muna, the center of Dhaulagiri Municipality, were affected.
Engineer Mohan Ruwali from the Infrastructure Development Office noted that the natural disasters not only washed away the road surface but also caused major damage to gabion walls, retaining walls, and paved roads. Approximately 15 locations suffered structural damage from Beni to Panabagar in Mangala Municipality-2 due to landslides, with road collapse at two locations due to river erosion.
The preliminary estimate of damage to road infrastructure in this section alone is about Rs 30-40 million. The Myagdi River erosion has washed away about 100 meters of the blacktopped road and severely damaged it in Malika Rural Municipality-6, Balute. Landslides at four locations from Panabagar to Darbang have further damaged the road, affecting direct transportation from Beni to Muna.
Significant damage to the road from Balute to Tolabang has resulted in traffic being rerouted from the Dukhukhola Bridge at the boundary of Mangala and Malika Rural Municipalities through Dukhubensi to Tolabang. Senior Divisional Engineer Rajesh Ulek stated that nearly 100 meters of road in Balute has collapsed due to river erosion, making regular road operation difficult and risky.
Ulek highlighted that a permanent wall needs to be built along the riverbank to make the road usable again. The reconstruction of the Beni-Panabagar section is estimated to cost Rs 46.25 million, while the Balute section of the Panabagar-Darbang section is estimated at Rs 22.74 million. The provincial government has allocated Rs 2.5 million for the reconstruction of the Balaut road, with work set to begin right after Dashain.
Currently, traffic is being operated one-way from Beni to the Dhukhukhola bridge, then via an alternative road to Tolabang, Darbang, and Muna after clearing landslides. Out of the 24 kilometers road from Beni to Darbang, 16.4 kilometers is paved. Except for six kilometers, the 18-kilometer section from Darbang to Muna along the Dharapani-Jhindada route is still under construction. The road connecting Beni-Darbang-Muna-Jaljala-Dhorpatan is an important route for the residents of western Myagdi and serves as an alternative to the Baglung section of the Mid-Hill Highway.