National road networks to get new links

Kathmandu: The 12 district headquarters that are not linked with the national road networks will get connected by the end of three-year interim plan, the National Planning Commission (NPC) said.

This goal will be accomplished if the works are proceeded smoothly as expected and if there is strict monitoring of the works,' Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel, NPC Vice Chairman said.

Within the current fiscal year, Khotang, Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Mustang, Bajhang and Solukhumbu district headquarters will be linked with the national road networks,' he added.

Pokhrel said all track opening works would be completed by the end of Chaitra of the current fiscal year.

According to the officials at the NPC, road works to Humla district headquarters via Tibetan territory would complete within this year and the Ministry of Local development has stepped up its effort to complete the task within the stipulated time.

The officials further stated that Humla would have road access as the Tibetan authority approved the Nepal government's plan to expand 45-km road expansion through Tibetan territory, Pokhrel added.

The NPC has divided the tasks among the Department of Road, Ministry of Local Development and the Nepal Army. The Nepal Army has taken the responsibility to construct 140 km Mugu-Dolpa section that will link Dunai, the headquarters of Dolpa to national roadways.

In the 140 km of Mugu-Dolpa road, about 30 km works has already been completed by the District Development Committee, and rest of the works will be completed by the end of interim plan period,' Shanti Raj Prasai, planning officer at Road Section at the NPC said.

The Army would start Mugu-Dolpa section after completing Chhinchu-Jajarkot road works, which is being carried out by the Nepal Army. The government has allocated Rs. 400,00,000 to complete the 140-km long road for the current fiscal year.

If the NA is mobilised by April, the works can be completed as per the plan and the needed budget for the completion of the works will be added later,' Vice Chairman Pokhrel told The Rising Nepal.

Similarly, the Department of Road has also been supporting to materialise the interim plans by linking up the Darchula headquarters by the end of interim plan period. Road construction process is underway.

The Ministry of Local Development has also initiated road works that link Solukhumbu with Sankhuwasabha district headquarters.

Jajarkot district headquarters has already been linked with motorable road but the bridge over Bheri river has not been constructed yet. For completing the bridge Rs. 600,00,000 is being allocated, Pokhrel said.

The NPC has allocated Rs. 11,00,00,000 to open 10 km track road from Hilepani to Khotang. Similarly, Rs. 133.6 million rupees has been allocated for completing the Terathum-Bhojpur road section.