Myagdi: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has directed the authorities concerned to undertake a feasibility study on tunnel construction in the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom road.

NPC Vice Chairperson Dr Biswo Poudel, who has reached the site for monitoring of the North-South Kaligandaki Corridor and Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project, directed to carry out a study on a tunnel construction in Myagdi and blacktop the road in Mustang.

Project Chief Jagat Prajapati shared that the vice-chairperson-led monitoring team had directed to carry out a feasibility study for tunnel construction in two places along the Myagdi section (with landslide vulnerability, weak topography and rocky mountain) and blacktop the road constructed in upper Mustang.

"Vice Chairperson Dr Poudel directed to initiate a study on the construction of a tunnel way along the Bhirkot and Rupse section as an alternative road", Project Chief Prajapati said, adding that he also directed to advance the plan of blacktopping graveled road along the Jomsom-Korala section.

Dr Poudel said that an alternative should be explored to construct a tunnel way so as to make the road sustainable and secured. He laid emphasis on exploring the alternative road to ease trade through Korala checkpoint and also for religious and tourism promotion focusing on historical monasteries.

The Vice Chairperson Poudel also stressed the need to put top priority on the construction of a road linking Mustang and Dolpa. Project Chief Prajapati said the project has already undertaken a preliminary study for the construction of a 350-meter-long tunnel.

The Kaligandaki Corridor Road – the shortest route in Nepal to connect India and China is the national pride project.

There are problems of river erosion, flood and landslide on Myagdi section of Beni-Jomsom road of which construction was initiated in 2017. Up-gradation has been completed in six out of 13 sections of 186-km Beni-Jomsom-Korala road.

The monitoring team comprises NPC Vice-chair Dr Poudel, Joint Secretary Rajendra Poudel, Engineer of Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Office, Lalijan Khanal and Tibet language specialist Punya Prasad Parajuli.

Chief District Officer Netra Prasad Sharma said that the team had monitored Beni-Jomsom-Korala road and monasteries in Upper Mustang. Likewise, the team had also consulted with the people's representatives, office chiefs and other stakeholders in Jomsom. The monitoring team had a discussion with farmers of Marfa on the effectiveness of agriculture project implemented in Mustang.