A 75-km road connecting Mustang and Dolpa districts has been opened, ensuring direct link between the mountainous regions of Gandaki and Karnali provinces. This road is expected to significantly boost internal trade, tourism development, and ease transportation for locals in the remote areas of the two provinces.

Rinjin Namgyal Gurung, chairperson of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, stated that the road connecting Baragung Muktikshetra of Mustang and Charka Tangsong Rural Municipality of Dolpa, under the federal government's Manang-Mustang-Dolpa-Jumla road project, is nearing completion.

A 40-km stretch of the road from Jomsom to Eklebhatti, Pakling, Falek, Sangta, and an additional 35 km from Sangta to the Dolpa border via Yakkharka has already been opened. However, the road requires upgrading along 20 kilometers and the construction of motorable bridges in four locations to ensure smooth traffic flow.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management has allocated Rs 8.5 million in the current fiscal year to build a Bailey bridge at Sukusamba on the Dolpa border. Gurung added that a proposal has been submitted to the government to construct three more Bailey or motorable bridges and upgrade roads in risky areas to support regular transportation.

The government initiated the road construction between Manang-Mustang of Gandaki Province and Dolpa-Mugu of Karnali Province in the fiscal year 2018/19. According to the Road Division Office in Baglung, 56.5 km of the road from Pakling has been opened, with an investment of Rs 220 million in the project. A road from Dolpa to the Mustang border had already been constructed, creating the shortest route to connect Dolpa with Kathmandu.

Tshering Pasang Gurung, a ward member and resident of Sangta, mentioned that tourists have started visiting Sangta and Yakkharka after the construction of the road. -- RSS