Karnali Corridor Set for Crucial Bridges and Blacktopping After Government Secures Funding

The Karnali Corridor, a national pride project, is finally set to receive crucial upgrades thanks to a significant budget allocation of Rs6.11 billion. This funding, approved by the Ministry of Finance, will enable the Department of Roads to proceed with the construction of six bridges and the blacktopping of a 60-kilometer stretch of this vital trans-Himalayan highway.

This development brings immense hope to the isolated mountain communities of the Karnali region, who have long suffered from poor connectivity. Federal lawmaker Jayapati Rokaya highlighted the corridor's potential to unlock economic prosperity and enhance religious tourism, particularly by providing a shorter, safer route for Indian pilgrims to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake.

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The Finance Ministry has cleared the resource assurance for the Department of Roads. We will invite global tenders immediately after receiving formal authorisation from our departmental headquarters.

While the financial breakthrough is celebrated, the project faces persistent engineering hurdles. A section is slated for submersion by a future hydropower project's reservoir, necessitating a diversion. Upgrades will temporarily bypass this area until an alternative alignment is finalized. Despite these challenges, the commitment to completing the multi-year contract awards by mid-July 2026 and finishing the project within two years signals a strong push towards realizing the corridor's full potential.

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The Karnali Corridor is the ultimate gateway to our economic prosperity. Once blacktopped, it will transform local trade and significantly boost religious tourism by providing Indian pilgrims with a shorter, safer overland route to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar lake.