Budget cut for Mahakali Corridor construction

Dhangadhi: The budget has been cut by half this year for the construction of the Mahakali Corridor, which is connected with the development of roads in Sudurpaschim Province. The road is 425 km long and has been constructed since the financial year 2064/65 BS as a tri-national road.

The road, which received a budget of Rs. 79.40 crores in the last financial year 2078/79 BS, has been cut by half for the current financial year. Engineer Milan Ghatani of the Mahakali Corridor Planning Office said that this year only half that is Rs. 40 crores has been allocated. So far, only 193 km of road tracks have been opened.

Even though the Nepali Army has taken the task of opening the 87 km road, no progress has been made beyond 6 km. Engineer Ghatani said that a contract agreement has been signed for road paving of 6 km in Jogbudha and 30 km in Darchula in Dadeldhura. The expected progress has not been made due to the problem of tree cutting along with the lack of budget for the rest of the road construction.