MUSTANG: The much-anticipated Korala border immigration office, inaugurated by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on October 30, 2024, remains non-operational months after its opening, sparking growing discontent among local traders and residents.
The office, envisioned to facilitate economic activity and cross-border trade with China, was shut down just days after its inauguration and remains locked even as of April 2025.
Despite the symbolic opening, the absence of functioning customs facilities and essential quarantine services—crucial for any cross-border operation—has left the border post in limbo.
Local leaders and traders report that the Nepali side of the border lacks even the most basic infrastructure, including shelter, security arrangements, drinking water, electricity, and communication services.
Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairman Tasi Nyaherbu Gurung expressed frustration, noting that while China has a fully equipped checkpoint on its side, Nepal has yet to build anything beyond a four-room tin-roofed building.
“There’s not even a tent for the police, no electricity, no drinking water. The government hasn’t taken any concrete steps to operationalize the checkpoint,” Gurung said.
The cold and harsh winds at the border post make it nearly impossible for security personnel to stay long, forcing them to commute daily from Nhechung, 13 kilometers away.
Local traders like Jigme Angma Gurung have resorted to conducting trade in the open fields, vulnerable to rain and wind. “We go to China at 9 am and return by 2 pm with goods. But without proper infrastructure, it’s very difficult,” he said.
Goods imported from China include daily essentials, alcohol, clothing, and furniture, while Nepal has potential export goods such as rice, pashmina, herbs, beaten rice, and buckwheat flour. Locals believe that a functional checkpoint could unlock significant economic benefits and streamline trade.
In addition to its economic potential, the Korala border checkpoint holds religious and tourism significance. The route through Korala is considered a viable option for Hindu pilgrims heading to Kailash Mansarovar. From the Tibetan town of Dhongwasen, 40 km north of Lomanthang, Mansarovar lies roughly 600 km away.
Despite a government decision made four years ago to transfer 1,344 ropanis of land to establish the customs office, actual construction has yet to begin. A provincial inspection team from Gandaki had previously recommended immediate installation of drinking water, toilets, and waste management facilities, but these suggestions have gone unheeded.
Previously closed during the Covid pandemic in 2020, the border reopened briefly on November 13, 2023. Before that, international trade through Korala border was permitted twice a year. With average daily tourist vehicle traffic reaching up to 300 during peak seasons, the lack of basic facilities is also affecting tourism in the region.
Locals are urging the government to prioritize infrastructure development and restore operations at the Korala border checkpoint—not just for trade, but also for tourism, religious travel, and the overall development of Upper Mustang.
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