Dhorpatan added to road network

MYAGDI: The road network connecting Dhorpatan in Myagdi to Baglung has been completed, linking the remote area with the broader transportation system.

The Beni–Darwang–Muna–Jaljala–Dhorpatan road, regarded as both an alternative to the Baglung section of the Mid-Hill Highway and a vital route for Mangala, Malika, and Dhawalagiri rural municipalities, also provides a shorter connection between Dhorpatan and Eastern Rukum via Beni from Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The road track was constructed from Mareni in Myagdi to Jaljala in Dhorpatan under a project run by the Road Division Office, Baglung, with a federal allocation of Rs 50 million for the current fiscal year, said Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality Chair Prem Prasad Pun.

“A nine-kilometer stretch has been opened from the forest above Mareni to Jaljala. A 10-kilometer section from Dhorpatan to Jaljala was already in place,” he said.

“Although the bulldozer has reached Jaljala, vehicle movement will only be possible after necessary upgrades.”

The road construction originally began in 2055 BS from Beni. So far, 64 kilometers of road has been opened from Beni to Jaljala via Muna, Khoriya, and Mareni.

Vice-Chairperson of Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality, Resham Punamagar, said that once the connection from Taksera in Eastern Rukum to Dhorpatan via Darwang–Muna–Jaljala is completed, the travel distance will be reduced by about 70 kilometers compared to the Baglung route of the Mid-Hill Highway.

According to him, only eight kilometers of road remain to be connected from Taksera to Nisildhor in Dhorpatan. The road is expected to benefit both locals and tourists traveling to Jaljala, Dhorpatan, and Uttarganga.

The rural municipality had prepared a detailed project report five years ago to extend the road from Khoriya in Ward 2 to Dhorpatan and proposed a plan and budget to the federal government three years ago.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has blacktopped a 20-kilometer section of road from Beni to Tolawang via Tatopani and Babiachour.

Provincial Assembly Member Resham Jugjali said that the government has initiated plans under two headings to upgrade the 17-kilometer stretch from Darwang to Takam Muna.

Stakeholders have shown growing interest in ensuring budget management and implementation for the remaining works—opening, upgrading, maintaining, and blacktopping—on this road, which is viewed as an important alternative route connecting the Mid-Hill Highway with Eastern Rukum.