Humla’s district headquarters, Simikot, has been formally connected to Nepal’s national road network following the inauguration of a Bailey bridge over the Chuwa Khola in Kharpunath Rural Municipality–5. The 170-foot bridge, constructed by the Nepali Army, completes a critical link in the Karnali Corridor - now dubbed the "Path to Prosperity" - and enables year-round vehicular access to one of the country’s most remote regions.

In 2074 BS, the Karnali provincial government symbolically renamed the Karnali Corridor as “Prime Minister International Highway” during a cabinet meeting held at Rara Lake, attended by then-PM KP Sharma Oli. The goal was to elevate the project to national pride status. Although funding fell short, the corridor's connectivity has now materialized with the bridge's completion.

The bridge connects Humla not only to the national road network but also symbolically bridges China in the north and India in the south. While roads existed, the absence of a bridge at Chuwa Khola had stalled full functionality. With its installation, the region now enters a new phase of trade and mobility.

Prime Minister Oli on Sunday inaugurated the bridge, calling it a major milestone. “Humla was the last district headquarters not connected to the national road system. I am deeply grateful to the Nepali Army for making this possible,” he said. Oli announced plans for a customs facility with a quarantine center at the Hilsa border to facilitate trade with China.

Former CM and Humla MP Jeevan Bahadur Shahi welcomed the development but emphasized the need for a permanent steel bridge. He urged the government to allocate funds for long-term infrastructure to sustain connectivity and trade.

In 2075 BS, China committed to prepare the DPR for the Karnali Corridor. China Railway Erwan Engineering Company submitted the DPR, proposing to complete the project within three years. Despite repeated submissions to the federal government, the project has not yet been prioritized.

The Jamunaha–Hilsa highway, starting in Banke and ending at the China border in Humla, spans 403.52 km according to the DPR, passing through Surkhet, Dailekh, Kalikot, and Bajura.

By Nagendra Upadhaya