The 18 kilometre Ramdi-Rani Mahal section of the Kaligandaki corridor in Palpa is yet to be completed even after eight years of its initiation. The then CPN-Maoist government had prioritised the Kaligandaki corridor project, which fell under projects reflecting national pride, with a five-year deadline. The 417 kilometre corridor is the nation’s shortest road that connects neighbouring India and China. Authorities concerned said budget freeze, inability of the construction companies to work as per the agreement, lack of essential manpower and vehicles were the main reasons behind the delay.

The work on the road section in the district which had been obstructed due to various reasons was started earlier this year but has again come to a halt. The project has been in limbo due to the negligence of the construction companies and the tendency to get the contract at a low cost and not working at all. However, the authorities concerned have not been able to take any action against them, with no option but to extend the time frame. 

According to project chief Sujan Adhikari, they had geared up to complete the track by the end of this fiscal year or within the first four months of next fiscal year even if they had to work overtime. The work has resumed after budget amounting to Rs 21.6 million was released, Adhikari said, adding that the tender process had finished and work has already started on the 18 kilomertre stretch in the district.

Adhikari said that Rs 13 million had been allocated to open the track from Darpuk to Ramdi and Rs 8.6 million for Batalung in Khanigaun to Ranighat in Baughagumha. 

As the budget was allocated according to a three-year plan, it is said that all the work should be completed within the period. Likewise, only 57 kilometres of the 70 kilometre Argali-Rampur in the district has been opened till now. 

Meanwhile, the tracks from Dailatung to Ramdi and Ranighat to Dailatung are yet to be opened.

The District Development Committee said that till date Rs 33 million has been spent on the road project. Due to the delay in construction, the sections already completed have also deteriorated and need to be reconstructed.

Previously, after being disheartened when the budget was not released for more than three years, locals donated labour to complete the 14 kilometre track. The project has been in limbo due to political instablity and insufficient budget. 

However, after the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance agreed to authorise a multiple year contract, the project is likely to be completed with the amount of budget released once, Adhikari said. 

The project targets to complete work within the first four months of the next fiscal year.

The north-south corridor runs through 132 kilometres in the Argali-Rampur-Gaindakot section, 88 kilometres in the Ridi-Gulmi-Baglung section, 87 kilometres in Baglung-Beni-Jomsom section and 105 kilometres in the Jomsom-Korla section.