13 bridges completed on Korala road; three nearing final stage

MUSTANG: A total of 13 bridges have been completed so far under the national pride Beni–Jomsom–Korala road project, which connects Nepal’s southern and northern borders. Three additional bridges are now in their final stages of construction.

The project, launched in FY 2073/74 as a trade corridor linking India and China, confirmed that 13 bridges were completed and handed over to the project office by last year.

Project engineer Bishnu Chapagain said that the contract agreements for three under-construction bridges, including Rupsekhola (Annapurna Rural Municipality-3); Khaharekhola (Thasang-4); and Kagbeni (Waragung Muktikshetra-4), have been terminated due to prolonged delays by contractors and natural disasters.

In the Myagdi section, the Rahughat and Ghattekhola bridges have been completed, while in Mustang, bridges over Letekhola, Setokhola (Thasang-3), Chhaktang Khola (Thasang-2), Marfakhola (Gharpajhong-2), Syangkhola (Gharpajhong-3), Pandakhola, Chhusang Narsingh Khola (Waragung-3), and Charangkhola (Loghekar-1) have also been finished and handed over.

Likewise, the Lomanthang Khola, Kimling Khola, Namdok Khola, and Vermakhola bridges in Upper Mustang have been completed. Chapagain noted that six bridges—including Seto Khola (Thasang-3), Marfakhola (Gharpajhong-2), Narsingh Khola (Baragung-3 Chhusang), Charang Khola (Loghekar Damodarkunda-1), Kimling, and Vermakhola (Lomanthang)—were completed and handed over in FY 2081/82.

The Kaikukhola (Thasang-4), Larjungkhola (Thasang-2), and Ghamikhola (Loghekar Damodarkunda-2) bridges are currently over 80% complete and expected to be handed over within the current fiscal year. Foundation work and slab slopes have been completed, with finishing and approach road construction still ongoing. The project has also built six bailey bridges at Kalipul, Tatopani, Rupse, and Kagbeni Khola in Myagdi, as well as Ghatte Khola (Thasang-2) and Thapakhola (Thasang-1). In total, 19 bridges—both bailey and concrete—have been constructed along the corridor.

Separately, eight concrete bridges have been built between Maludhunga in Parbat and Mustang by the Bridge Sector Office Pokhara and other agencies. These include Damuwa Khola, Lastikhola, Milanchok Khola in Parbat, and Kaligandaki Khola, Begkhola, Tiplyang Khola, and Pokhre Bagar Khola in Myagdi, as well as the Kaligandaki Khola bridge in Jomsom, which was completed with financial assistance from the Indian Embassy.