KATHMANDU, May 10: An alternative road has been constructed in the Lo Manthang section of Mustang under the Beni-Jomsom-Korla road of the Kaligandaki corridor, a national pride project.

An alternative road has been constructed in the Lo Manthang-Nechung section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala National Highway, which connects the 1st, 2nd and 5th wards of Lo Manthang Rural Municipality through the 'One Constituency, One Strategically Important Road' project of Gandaki Province Government.

Ajay Shrestha, head of the Infrastructure Development Office, Mustang, said that the 10.5 km road connecting Choser's Nechung Customs from the village center Lo Manthang via Dingar-Khumjung-Nyando has undergone upgrades including extension, drainage improvement, wall construction, and gravel surfacing.

Originally contracted at Rs 211.7 million, the project's cost has escalated to Rs 240 million due to 'variation orders'. As of now, Rs 180 million has been disbursed for the project. Satish Paneru, a technician from the Infrastructure Development Office, Mustang, outlined that the upgrades included road winding, grade improvement, drain construction, and gravel surfacing at a depth of eight meters.

Tashi Nurbu Gurung, chairman of Lo Manthang Rural Municipality, emphasized the strategic significance of the road, facilitating improved access for local residents, tourists, and businesses. This road not only links numerous settlements but also serves as an alternative route to the national highway, easing transportation and trade between the village center and the Korala border point.

As the Charang-Choser section, which is being upgraded, is dilapidated and the motorable bridge over the river has not been constructed, the vehicles going to the Korala border point are using the road built by the provincial government. Preparations have been made to upgrade the 3.5 km road from Lo Manthang to Kimling of the ring road via Puwa.

Similarly, Gurung, chairman of the rural municipality, said that another 6.5 km road connecting Nyanol-Samjung-Choser-Chemung is ready to be upgraded.

 
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