15 km of Beni–Jomsom–Korala road still needs repair; target to reopen within 10 days

About 15 km of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road in Myagdi district, part of the Kali Gandaki Corridor linking China and India, still needs repair.

The road was damaged by continuous rain from Asoj 8 to 11. It is targeted to open to four-wheeled vehicles within one week to 10 days, according to project chief Tejaswi Sharma. The roughly 202 km road was damaged at around 55 locations.

The Kali Gandaki river has eroded the road from Rahupare in Myagdi to Pokharebagar, the centre of Annapurna Rural Municipality, to the point where even walking is difficult. Equipment and workers have been deployed to all blocked sites, and repairs are under way simultaneously, Sharma said.

With the Rasuwa and Tatopani border points remaining closed, the Korala border point has become the only option for trade with China. The government has therefore placed repair of this road as a high priority.

There is also pressure to reopen the road quickly so that Mustang apples and sheep and goats can reach markets ahead of Dashain and Tihar. With the tourist season already under way, the road is also needed by travellers heading to Mustang.