Bajura, March 21

Vehicles have started plying the Bajura section of the Karnali Corridor from today.

The 31-km stretch from Laifu on the border between Bajura and Kalikot to Lebdi of Bajura was constructed by the Nepali Army and was inaugurated by lawmaker Lal Bahadur Thapa at a programme today.

With the operation of the road, Bajura’s Himali, Swamikartik and Jagannath rural municipalities and Budhinanda Municipality have been linked with road network. It has also made life easier for the locals of Kalikot and Mugu.

“The road was brought into operation at the behest of local political parties and people’s representatives well before its handover to the road department by the army,” said Chief District Officer Chetraj Baral, adding that upgradation of the road was happening simultaneously.

According to the army, only limited transport will be allowed on the road for now.

The Karnali Corridor entrusted to the Nepali Army for construction spans around 145 km from Kalikot’s Lalu to Humla’s Sarisalla. Of the total length of the road, 40 km lies in Kalikot, and 44 km in Bajura, while the remaining part lies in Humla. The Nepali Army had started construction of the road four years ago.

“So far, transportation has come into operation in 72 kilometres of the road we’ve constructed; work is on in 35-km stretch,” said Lieutenant Shankar Silwal.