Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Tuesday inaugurated a bridge over the Hilsa River in Mugu connecting the mountainous district with China’s Tibet.

Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and District Development Committee (DDC), Humla, jointly built the motorable bridge with an estimated cost of Rs75 million. It took six years to complete the construction.

On the occasion, PM Dahal said the bridge will increase connectivity and business ties between Karnali and Tibet. 

“This bridge has boosted the confidence of Humla locals who are yet to be connected with road,” said PM Dahal. “Now, it will be easier for the people travelling to Kailash Mansharovar and for Chinese tourists travelling to Nepal.”

The construction of the Hilsa-Simikot road section is also going on at war footing and it will be completed soon, he added. 

Before the inauguration of the bridge, district-based political parties presented a 12-point demand to the PM.

The demands included speeding up the Hilsa-Simkot Karnali Corridor highway; production of three megawatts power from the Hekpakhola and Dojamkhola rivers; investing in the agriculture sector in southern parts of the district; providing an ultrasonography machine to the district hospital; constructing a road through the Lalung-Jodang pass at Lapcha of Limi VDC; and easing travel restrictions to Kailash Mansarovar from Humla; among others.