KATHMANDU: The trilateral road project connecting Nepal with China and India through the Beni–Jomsom–Korala route has recorded financial expenditure of more than Rs 8.96 billion so far.
The Kaligandaki Corridor Korala Road Project said the amount was spent between fiscal year 2073/74 and 2082/83. The project is part of the national priority infrastructure initiative aimed at improving north-south connectivity.
According to Project Chief Tejaswi Sharma, the initial estimated cost of the project was Rs 10.56 billion, of which Rs 8.96 billion has already been spent. The revised estimated cost of the project has now been increased to Rs 15 billion.
Sharma said the overall physical progress of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road project has reached 65 percent, while financial progress stands at 60 percent based on the revised cost estimate.
The completion deadline for the under-construction national pride project has been extended until fiscal year 2032/33.
The project initially included the upgrading of the 74-km Beni–Jomsom section into a blacktopped road and the 119-km Jomsom–Korala section into a gravel road. However, several additional road and bridge projects have since been added.
The project is responsible for upgrading and blacktopping the 202-km road stretch from Maldhunga in Parbat to the Nepal-China Korala border point. Sharma said blacktopping of around 90 km of the route had been completed by last June.
A contract worth more than Rs 2 billion has already been invited to upgrade and blacktop the 50-km section from Chhusang to Ghami in Mustang under the Kaligandaki Corridor.
Sharma said a tender would be issued this fiscal year for blacktopping 500 metres of the landslide-prone Sirubari section of the Beni–Jomsom road in Myagdi.
An agreement has also been reached with the hydropower company to blacktop around 300 metres of road near the Rahughat Hydropower Project area in Myagdi. Similarly, Kaligandaki Gorge Hydropower Company will blacktop around 500 metres of road near Khahare Khola below Ghasa in Thasang Rural Municipality-4, the border area of Myagdi and Mustang.
Around 700 metres of road between Maldhunga and Beni in Parbat remains to be blacktopped, excluding the Mahabhir and Bhirkate sections in Myagdi, according to Sharma.
Works to widen the road by cutting rocks at Mahabhir and Bhirkate have been temporarily halted. Sharma said efforts have started to widen the road by constructing gabion protection structures along the Kaligandaki River.
Under the Korala Road Project, 26 motorable concrete bridges are planned between Maldhunga and the Korala border point. So far, 18 bridges have been completed by fiscal year 2026/27.
Four bridges are currently under construction, while budget allocation is yet to be made for the remaining four bridges.
The bridges still required include those over Tangbe Khola and Kagbeni Khola in Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality of Mustang, Rupse Khola in Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 and Bhurung Khola in Tatopani of Myagdi. A bridge over the Kaligandaki River connecting Parbat and Myagdi at Beni also remains to be constructed.
The project has also identified the need for bridges at temporary crossing points including Milan Chowk, Lapsi Khola and Damuwa Khola in Parbat.
Meanwhile, landslide prevention works are ongoing at three locations along the Myagdi section of the Beni–Jomsom road, including Guithhebhir, Khambhitta and Baisari.
The project said additional landslide control works will be carried out this fiscal year at Juke Khola, Kerabari and Lati Khola along the Maldhunga–Beni section.
Further landslide prevention projects are also planned at Sirubari, Mahabhir, Naunibagar and Sukebagar along the Beni–Jomsom road section.
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