MYAGDI: Footpaths in Bim and Danda Gaun of Malika Rural Municipality–7, Myagdi, have been paved, improving internal connectivity and sanitation within the settlements.
The unpaved paths inside the villages have been upgraded and structured to enhance cleanliness and village aesthetics.
Local resident Mangali Pun of Danda Gaun said the new paved footpaths have eliminated problems caused by mud and dust, making daily movement easier and the village cleaner and more organized.
“It used to be difficult to walk on slippery paths or carry heavy loads. The paved footpaths have made life much more convenient,” she said, adding that the risk of snake bites during the rainy season has also reduced as people no longer need to walk through bushes.
More than 200 households in Bim and Danda Gaun have benefited from the project, with improved mobility for children and elderly residents.
The construction began in fiscal year 2080/81 with support from the Gandaki Province Government and was completed in the current fiscal year. In the first phase, 425 meters of footpath were built in Bim Tallogaun and 250 meters in Danda Gaun, with a budget of Rs 3 million allocated through the Infrastructure Development Office.
In fiscal year 2081/82, a 290-meter drainage system was constructed in Tallogaun with a budget of Rs 1 million, along with the development of a paved footpath above it, according to Engineer Suman Bogati of the Integrated Services Office.
He added that in the current fiscal year, an additional 550 meters of footpath was built in Danda Gaun under a Rs 1 million budget. The structure includes horizontally laid stones and stair sections on steep slopes, with a width ranging from 1.10 to 1.20 meters. Committee Chairman Bhalaram Jugjali said the footpath is also suitable for bicycles and motorcycles.
Previously, the trail became muddy during the rainy season and dusty in dry conditions. Local resident Dhan Kumar Jugjali said the sloped design has made cleaning and maintenance easier. He also noted that a Rs 500,000 budget allocated for Tallogaun could not be implemented due to rising fuel and construction material costs.
Bim and Danda Gaun lie at the base of the religious and tourist destinations of Malika and Prabhu Chela Dhuri, with scenic views of Gurja Himal attracting visitors.
Local representative and Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Resham Bahadur Jugjali said the footpath paving initiative aims to promote cleanliness and develop the villages as model settlements.
He also informed that roads within Tallogaun and Danda Gaun will be blacktopped under the ongoing Khara–Bim Road Upgrading Project.
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