The track for the 158-kilometer road from Khandbari, the headquarters of Sankhuwasabha district, to Kimathanka, the district's northernmost border with China, has been successfully opened.
This road section forms a crucial part of the Koshi Highway, envisioned to connect India and China.
The breakthrough was achieved on Monday, January 27, when the Nepal Army cleared the challenging 10.5-kilometer Chyamthang-Ghonghoppa rocky terrain.
The milestone was celebrated with a formal event in Chyamthang, Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-1, attended by three federal ministers: Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Deepak Khadka; Defense Minister Manbir Rai; and Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal.
Minister Khadka highlighted the significance of the road in facilitating tri-nation transit involving Nepal, India, and China, with potential benefits for Bangladesh as well. He urged the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure to allocate the necessary budget for upgrading the road. "The improved accessibility following the track opening will also enable the development of hydropower projects utilizing the Arun River in the Kimathanka area," he said.
Defense Minister Rai underscored the strategic importance of Kimathanka in the east, Hilsa in the west, and Kerung in central Nepal, adding that these border points remain government priorities. He instructed the Nepal Army to expedite the remaining work.
Likewise, Minister Dahal assured that adequate funding would be provided to complete the remaining sections of the road and construct the necessary bridges.
Wang Chedar Lama, Chairperson of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, expressed hope for the economic transformation of the region. "This breakthrough marks the beginning of a golden era for Bhotkhola, Sankhuwasabha, and the entire nation," he said.
Providing updates on the project, the Nepal Army called for sufficient funding to ensure timely completion of road-widening efforts.
RSS
