By Rajan Rawat
Simkot, Dec. 21: Construction of the Humla section of the Karnali Corridor, a national pride project entrusted to the Nepal Army, is set to be completed by April, 2021.
The Army continued working on the road throughout the COVID-induced lockdown and has now informed that 90 per cent of the work has been finished. The army is confident that the work will be completed within the stipulated time because many works, including building the gabions and blasting the earth, are progressing without delay.
There are 90 workers from the Nepal Army and 200 from outside working from morning to evening on the project.
Jagat Bahadur Shahi, a local of Tanjakot, said that construction of the road in Tanjakot and Adanchuli Rural Municipalities had been completed. Shahi, who is greatly impressed by the army's construction work, added that vehicles had also started plying on the road and that they had reached the centres of both Municipalities. He is happy that southern Humla has now been connected to the national road network.
“Construction is in full swing and the road will be completed by coming April,” said Milan Karki, chief engineer of the team constructing the Khulalu, Laifu, Kawadi and Salisalla stretches of the corridor. “Only two kilometres of the 39-kilometre road section remains to be constructed.”
According to the Army, the remaining part comprises the inconvenient and rocky areas of Nerghat, Pampade and Salisalla in the district.
A few days ago, a team led by Chakka Bahadur Lama, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Humla district, had visited the area and recommended that the completed sections of the road would be brought into operation soon.
Vehicles have already started driving on the completed sections at Khulalu, Laifu, Dhulachaur and Kawadi in Kalikot and Bajura districts.
The army took charge of the Humla section in 2015.