Over 85 percent of the work on the Beni-Jomsom-Korala section of the Kaligandaki Corridor has been completed so far under the North-South Trade Route Expansion Project (NSTREP).

Excluding the nine projects added in the current Fiscal Year (FY), the overall physical progress of the section has reached 85 percent, according to the NSTREP.

Bishnu Chapagain, Information Officer of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, said that over 85 percent physical progress has been made in upgrading the road and 84 percent progress in the construction of bridges and culverts. He stated that construction of the national pride project, which connects to the northern Korala border transit point, began in the FY 2016/17.

According to Chapagain, seven big and small roads have been blacktopped while six roads have been graveled under the road expansion project. He said blacktopping and upgrading have been completed in seven phases, including the Beni-Kalipul, Beni-Galeshwor, Tatopani-Kaiku, Kaiku-Kowang, and Jomsom-Kagbeni sections of Myagdi.

Chapagain added that the work on the Jomsom-Korala section has been completed in six phases, and graveling work on 25 kilometers of the Charang-Chhoser section is in its final stage.

According to him, a contract was signed for blacktopping a 105-km road, of which 75 km has been completed. Similarly, out of the 110-km Jomsom-Korala section, graveling has been completed on 90 km, according to the Project Office.

Of the 19 bridges planned under the Project, 14 have been completed, while the remaining five are under construction, said Chapagain.

Of the 14 completed bridges, nine were constructed in the Mustang section and five in the Myagdi section.