Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Faces Rs 1 Billion Repair Bill After Devastating Landslides

MYAGDI, Oct 20 — Physical infrastructure along the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road has sustained damage estimated at approximately Rs 1 billion following landslides, floods, and erosion triggered by rainfall from September 24 to 27, according to the Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project.

Restoring the damaged road to its original condition will require an additional Rs 3 billion to Rs 4 billion, project officials said. Project Chief Tejashwi Sharma reported that the Kaligandaki River swept away or destroyed sections of the road at 10 locations, while landslides caused damage at 50 locations.

Although the road—which initially suffered damage estimated at Rs 80 million to Rs 90 million—was reopened within two weeks of initial repairs, further investment is needed for full restoration, Sharma said.

"In addition to controlling landslides and river erosion, we have to follow the design for asphalt pavement in the Myagdi section, which was previously covered with double bituminous surface treatment (DBST)," he said.

The 202-kilometer road connects Maldhunga in Parbat to the Korala border crossing in Mustang via Beni in Myagdi. The 33-kilometer section in Myagdi sustained the most damage.

Landslides and erosion have affected not only areas already prone to such incidents but also new locations along the road.

Narendra Subedi, chief of the Federal Road Inspection Office in Pokhara and the project's founding chief, said the road—whose construction began in fiscal year 2073/74 BS—had suffered its most extensive damage to date. He added that the recently upgraded section in Myagdi had been particularly affected.