MUSTANG, Dec 7: Under the national pride project that links north and south, the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project has completed 13 bridges so far. Three more are in the final stage of construction.
The project, which began in fiscal year 2073/74 BS as a trade route connecting India and China, has already handed over 13 completed bridges to the project office. According to engineer Bishnu Chapagai, the contracts for three under-construction bridges have been terminated.
Six sections of Jomsom-Korala road completed
These bridges are at Rupsekhola in Annapurna Rural Municipality 3 of Myagdi, Khaharekhola in Thasang 4, and Kagbeni in Waragung Muktikshetra 4. Chapagai said the contracts were cancelled due to delays by the builders and natural calamities.
The project has completed and handed over the Rahughat bridge and Ghattikhola bridge in the Myagdi section. In the Mustang section, bridges at Letekhola, Setokhola, Chhaktang Khola, Marfa Khola, Syangkhola, Pandakhola, Chhusang Narsingh Khola, and Charang Khola have been completed.
In the upper Mustang, the project has completed and handed over bridges over Lomangthang Khola, Kimling Khola, Namdok Khola and Bharmakhola. Six of these were finished and handed over last fiscal year. Chapagai said that Setokhola in Thasang 3, Marfa Khola in Gharpajhong 2, Narsingh Khola in Chhusang, Charang Khola in Lomanthang Damodarkunda 1, and Kimling and Bharmakhola in Lomanthang were completed in fiscal year 2081/82.
The three bridges now in their final phase are Kaikukhola in Thasang 4, Larjungkhola in Thasang 2, and Ghami Khola in Lomanthang Damodarkunda 2. Chapagai said all three have completed foundation work and slab casting, and only finishing and approach road work remains. The project expects to hand them over within this fiscal year since physical progress has passed 80 percent.
The Korala Road Project has built six Bailey bridges so far, including those at Kalipul in Beni, Tatopani, Rupse, Kagbeni Khola, Ghattikhola in Thasang 2, and Thapakhola in Thasang 1. In total, the project has completed 19 bridges, permanent and Bailey combined.
Beyond the Korala project, eight permanent bridges have been completed from Maludunga in Parbat up to the Mustang section. These bridges were built and maintained by the Bridge Sector Office Pokhara and other offices. They include Dumuwakhola, Lastikhola and Milanchok Khola in Parbat; Kaligandaki Khola in Beni; Begkhola and Tiplyang Khola in Kaligandaki; and Pokhre Bagar Khola.
The Kaligandaki Khola bridge in Jomsom was completed earlier with financial support from the Indian Embassy.
