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Photo: Hari Krishna Sharma /TRN The 20-metre-long permanent bridge over Kaikukhola in Thasang Rural Municipality, completed this year under the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project.

The government has invited bids worth Rs. 349 million for the construction of three permanent bridges under the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, a key section of the Kali Gandaki Corridor that is considered Gandaki Province's lifeline linking north and south.

According to Tejaswi Sharma, chief of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, contracts have been invited for the construction of three permanent bridges.

One bridge will be built over the Kali Gandaki River at Paribeni, connecting Beni Municipality-8 of Myagdi and Jaljala Rural Municipality-3 of Parbat, at an estimated cost of Rs. 112 million. Another bridge will be constructed over Sunkhola in Thasang Rural Municipality-2 of Mustang at a cost of Rs. 136 million.

Similarly, a bridge over Thapakhola in Thasang Rural Municipality-1 has been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs. 101 million.

“The existing Bailey bridges and old structures will be replaced. Additional resources are also being secured for blacktopping the road up to Korala and constructing bridges,” Sharma said.

A total of 15 permanent bridges are currently under construction under the Korala Road Project. A bridge being built at Ghami in Lomanthang Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-2 in Upper Mustang has reached its final stage.

Meanwhile, bids have also been invited for blacktopping the Chhusang-Ghami road section in Upper Mustang.

The 40.2-kilometre road connecting Chhusang in Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality and Ghami in Lomanthang Damodarkunda Rural Municipality will be upgraded at an estimated cost of more than Rs. 1.5 billion.

According to Sharma, the first package for the Chhusang-Bhena section has been estimated at Rs. 845 million, while the second package covering the Bhena-Ghami section is valued at Rs. 674.9 million.

Recently, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal inspected the road up to the Korala border point and pledged to ensure budget allocation for blacktopping the remaining sections.

Officials expect funding to be secured in the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27 for paving the remaining section from Ghami to the Korala border via Lo Manthang.

Work to upgrade the 202-kilometre stretch from Maldhunga in Kushma Municipality-1 of Parbat to the Korala border with China began in 2017.

The 435-kilometre Kaligandaki Corridor, which links India and China, will be completed once the road reaches the Korala border point.

By Hari Krishna Sharma