Local entrepreneurs said they have lowered the prices of most staple items by Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg as they can now be easily delivered from Beshisahar of Lamjung district via vehicles.[break]
Jiban Rajbhandari, a local trader based in Chame, said the price of Sona Mansuli has gone down to Rs 55 per kg from Rs 65 per kg. According to him, the price of refined flour has also decreased to Rs 60 from Rs 65 per kg and sugar to Rs 110 from Rs 120 per kg. “The price of other food commodities has also gone down from Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kg,” he said.
Traders said that the prices had gone down with the reduction in the transportation cost. Previously, traders used mules for transporting goods. “The road connectivity has relieved the locals,” Rajbhandari said.
According to Rajan Kumar Shrestha, secretary of Manang Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), traders were paying Rs 25 to 29 per kg for transporting goods from Beshisahar to Chame by mule, while the vehicles charge only Rs 15 per kg.
“The road is steep and difficult, therefore, we have not been able to bring the cost down further,” he added. The difficult condition of the road means that vehicles that can carry 12 quintals can carry only up to 8 quintals, traders said. However, the time taken for delivering the goods to Chame has been shortened to around seven hours from three days.
With the access of motorable roads, the commodities in short supply, like milk and yoghurt, are also entering the districts now. “The local milk production was not enough before,” he added.
Nepal Army had constructed the Beshishar-Chame road section, which is 65 kilometers long.
Sange Lama, owner of Chame based Hotel Marsyangdi Mandala, said the prices of vegetables had decreased after the district was connected by motorable roads. “Onion is available at Rs 65 now as against Rs 80 before,” she added.
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