Mustang, Oct 7: A 75 km road connecting Mustang in Gandaki and Dolpa in Karnali province has been opened. This road is considered crucial for internal trade, tourism development, and the convenience of local residents in the Himalayan districts of the two provinces.
Under the federal government’s Manang-Mustang-Dolpa-Jumla Road Project, the road connecting Waragung Mukti Kshetra of Mustang and Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality of Dolpa is nearing completion, according to Rinzin Namgyal Gurung, Chairman of Waragung Mukti Kshetra Rural Municipality.
Gurung said, “A 40 km road from Jomsom to Eklebhatti, Pakling, Falek, Sangta, and another 35 km from Sangta to the border of Dolpa via Yak Kharka have already opened.” He added, “Last year, tractors were driven for a few days through Mustang to Tangsong in Chharka. It is necessary to upgrade 20 km of road and construct motorable bridges at four locations for regular and smooth traffic flow on this road.”
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport has allocated 8.5 million rupees in the current fiscal year to build a bailey bridge in Sukasamba bordering Dolpa, Chairman Gurung informed. Additionally, it has been proposed to the federal government to construct three more bailey bridges or motorized bridges and upgrade roads in risky areas to facilitate regular traffic operations.
The government initiated the construction of the road connecting Manang-Mustang in Gandaki province and Dolpa-Mugu in Karnali province in the fiscal year 2075-76BS from Pakling in Waragung Mukti Kshetra-4 of Mustang to Dolpa via Sangata. According to Road Division Office Baglung, 56.5 km of road has been opened from Pakling with an investment of Rs 22 crore.
The road was previously constructed from Dolpa to the border of Mustang. Two years ago, a 120-meter-long concrete bridge was constructed by the provincial government on the Kaligandaki river at the border of Pakling and Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality of Mustang, which serves as the entry point of the road connecting Dolpa.
Surendra Gurung, Ward Chair of Waragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-5, noted that the travel time for Upper Dolpa residents, traders, and farmers has been reduced from two days to three hours since vehicles began operating.
“Northern Dolpa residents who used to spend weeks traveling to Mustang can now make the journey in just one day,” he added. “Residents of Upper Dolpa, including Chharka-Tangsong, use this road to transport daily essentials, construction materials, sheep, and yak to the market. It is believed that this road will significantly shorten the distance between Dolpa and the capital, Kathmandu.”
Chhiring Pasang Gurung, a ward member and resident of Sangta, mentioned that after the road was constructed, tourists started visiting Sangta. The rural municipality has ensured regular traffic operations up to Yak Kharka by clearing snow and landslides from the road.
At an altitude of over 4,000 meters above sea level, travelers on the road passing through the foothills of the Jhamtang Dolma mountain can spot herds of wild animals where there are no human settlements. #road #dolpa #mustang #nepal
