Bajura, January 17

A team of three ministers went on a field visit of the under-construction Karnali Corridor in Bajura district today.

Nepali Army has been entrusted with the construction of the corridor.

Minister for Transportation Management and Physical Infrastructure Ramesh Lekhak, Defence Minister Bal Krishna Khand, and Poverty Alleviation and Urban Minister Hridaya Ram Thani surveyed the under-construction project today. The team had not informed any local administration and security personnel about the inspection.

Chief District Officer Devendra Lamichhane refused to comment on the matter. The team landed at Area Police Office, Kunda, in a Nepali Army MI17 helicopter.

Chief of District Police Office Bajura DSP Dal Bahadur Bogati said he was not informed about the visit. The team reportedly reached the site when they were going to take stock of the Gamgadhi–Nakchelagna road section that connects Tibet of China with Mugu’s district headquarters Gamgadhi.

The Nepali Army has inked an agreement for construction of the 196 km Karnali Corridor from Khulalu of Kalikot to Simikot of Jumla within five years. The Nepali Army has said that it has estimated a budget of Rs 7 million to construct one kilometre of the road in the area.

The NA is planning to open a track along the 68-km road from Khulalu of Kalikot to Arthungechaur of Bajura within this fiscal. People of Mugu, Humla and northern Bajura will be the direct beneficiaries of this road.