RASUWA, Sept 23: The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Mailung-Shyabrubesi road, which connects Nepal with northern neighbor China, is set to be revised in the near future.
The DPR was prepared last June. However, following heavy damage to the road from monsoon-triggered landslides , the authorities are seeking a DPR revision. The landslides have done serious damage at around a dozen sections of the road.
The Galchi-Trishuli-Mailung-Shabrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project has responsibility for upgrading the newly constructed road section within two years. Project chief Subodh Kumar Devkota said the damage from landslides is severe enough to rule out working under the existing DPR.
DPR of Jumla Airport in limbo, crew flying taking risks
“We cannot work with the existing DPR,” said Devkota. “As revision is a must, and we are making preparations for that,” he added but decline to give an estimate when the revision would be completed.
According to the road project office, they first need to wait for the monsoon to end before assessing the landslide damage. Devkota said they would make a field trip after the rains stop.
Under the original DPR, the project office was preparing to start upgrading the road starting from November. However, revising the DPR could push the upgrade work further back .
The Nepal Army had completed the construction work on the road and handed it over to the project office in May. The army had started the construction work in April 2015, and the track was opened on May 20 this year.
Vehicles were permitted to ply on the road section for a few days after the track opening. The road is a high priority project in the country.
The Mailung-Shyabrubesi road to China is 25 kilometers shorter than the existing Betrawati-Kalikasthan-Dhunche- Shyabrubesi road. The road to Shyabru via Betrawati-Kalikasthan-Dhunche is 54 kilometers.
