KANCHANPUR, Nov 9: When Lok Bahadur Thapa Magar moved from Jogbudha, Dadeldhura to Tudikhel in Kanchanpur-9 in 2008, he was full of hope. News had spread that the Mahakali Corridor road would soon connect Brahmadev in Kanchanpur to Tinker in Darchula, promising easier transport and new business opportunities.
Fifteen years later, his excitement has turned to disappointment. “We were told the road would bring education, health, and trade closer to us, but it’s still not complete,” he said.
Revised interest rate corridor system introduced
Though the corridor’s track is open, travel remains difficult, especially during the monsoon when parts become impassable. Thapa said villagers still carry patients on foot to hospitals because there are neither health centers nor schools nearby. “Roads are our biggest problem,” he said.
Another local, Lila Pun Magar, said the initial excitement had faded due to long delays. “We heard about the project 12 years before the track opened. We still hope, but the government must prioritize and complete it soon,” she said.
Locals believe the Mahakali Corridor could boost connectivity with India, expand local industries, and promote tourism. “This road is vital not just for travel but for trade,” said local resident Ramesh Nayak, adding that the project’s completion could transform the Far West’s economy.
The 413-kilometer highway aims to link Brahmadev in Kanchanpur with Tinker on the Nepal-China border, passing through Dadeldhura, Baitadi, and Darchula. Once complete, it is expected to benefit nearly 800,000 people, enhance cross-border trade with India and China, and ease pilgrimages to Mount Kailash.
However, the project has been bogged down by insufficient funding, procedural hurdles, and bureaucratic apathy. Though it began with enthusiasm nearly 15 years ago, progress has stalled. For the current fiscal year, only Rs 229.7 million has been allocated—far short of what is needed even to clear outstanding contractor payments of over Rs 1.5 billion, according to project information officer Ram Chandra Jaishi.
Construction progress varies by district: 11 km completed in Kanchanpur, 28 km in Dadeldhura, 114 km in Baitadi, and 77 km in Darchula. The Nepali Army is currently opening 79 km of track between Tusarapani and Tinker. Meanwhile, blacktopping work is underway in a few sections across Dadeldhura and Darchula, covering about 37 km.
Initially estimated to cost Rs 18.16 billion and be completed by fiscal year 2023-24, the Mahakali Corridor remains incomplete due to budget shortages and environmental clearance delays. For locals, what began as a promise of prosperity now stands as a symbol of prolonged government neglect.
