The Kaligandaki Corridor, a national pride project and the shortest route connecting Nepal’s north and south, remains incomplete even after 15 years of construction. Launched in Fiscal Year 2009/10, the project has achieved only 65% progress so far. The Kaligandaki Corridor Project Office cited insufficient budget allocation, India’s blockade, the 2015 earthquake, and the impact of COVID-19 as key reasons for the prolonged delay.

According to the project office, the corridor could not be completed within the original timeframe due to inadequate annual budget allocations. The government still owes Rs 550 million to contractors in the current fiscal year alone. Bipul Gautam, an engineer at the project office in Palpa, confirmed that the project has achieved 65% progress and the deadline has been extended till Fiscal Year 2026/27.

The 495-kilometer-long corridor was designed with an 11-meter-wide road, but some sections remain narrower. Of the estimated Rs 30.57 billion total cost, the Gaidakot-Ramdi-Maldhunga section accounts for Rs 20.22 billion, while the Beni-Jomsom-Korla section is expected to cost Rs 10.35 billion. So far, Rs 20 billion has been spent on the project.

Locals have expressed dissatisfaction over the prolonged construction delays, stating that the incomplete project has disrupted irrigation and drinking water projects, damaged roads and auxiliary offroads, and negatively impacted daily life. Stakeholders have urged authorities to accelerate the completion of the Gaidakot-Ramdi-Maldhunga section to prevent further inconvenience.

Former Gandaki Province Minister Bikash Lamsal, who was also a member of the Constituent Assembly, criticized the delays, calling them a missed opportunity for economic development. He blamed contractors for failing to complete the work on time and noted that some sections of the highway remain unsatisfactory despite all routes being opened.

With the government allocating Rs 1.5 billion for the project this fiscal year, Phalebas Municipality Mayor Gangadhar Tiwari stressed the need to expedite construction, citing its importance for economic growth. He assured that local governments would address water supply and irrigation issues caused by the project as per the demands of the residents.

Kamal Prasad Bhusal, former chairman of Bihadi Rural Municipality (Parbat), acknowledged that the corridor has improved accessibility by eliminating the need to travel through three districts to reach the district headquarters. However, he noted that the quality of the construction work remains unsatisfactory, even though the Bihadi section has been blacktopped, making it easier to market agricultural produce.

Locals have also raised concerns about environmental damage. Bhusal warned that fallen stones and soil from construction work are threatening the Shaligram Shila at the religious site Setibeni.

Ward Chairman of Syangja’s Galyang Municipality-5, Ghanshyam Bhattarai, highlighted the displacement of five households and the collapse of a three-kilometer irrigation canal, forcing residents to abandon 80 ropanis of cultivable land. He urged authorities to accelerate construction and address these issues promptly. -- RSS