Myagdi, Oct 24: It is estimated to cost around Rs 70 million to reconstruct the Beni–Darbang–Muna road in Myagdi that was damaged by floods, landslides, and river erosion.
The road connecting the western Myagdi municipalities of Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri to the district headquarters Beni witnessed significant damage due to floods, landslides, and erosion by the Myagdi River following continuous rainfall during last September 23-27.
Infrastructure Development Office of Myagdi reported that around 22 locations on the road from Beni to Muna, the center of Dhaulagiri Municipality, were damaged.
Engineer Mohan Ruwali from the office said that floods, landslides, and river erosion not only washed away the road surface but also caused major damage to gabion walls, retaining walls, and paved roads.
According to him, 15 places suffered damage structure from Beni to Panabagar in Mangala Municipality-2 due to small and large landslides. In two locations, the road collapsed due to river erosion.
The preliminary estimate of damage to road infrastructure in this section alone is about Rs 30-40 million. The Myagdi River erosion has washed away about 100 meters of the blacktopped road and severely damaged it in Malika Rural Municipality-6, Balute.
Landslides at four locations from Panabagar to Darbang have damaged the road. With the road damaged, direct transportation from Beni to Muna has been affected.
After significant damage to the road from Balute to Tolabang, traffic has been rerouted from the Dukhukhola Bridge at the boundary of Mangala and Malika Rural Municipalities through Dukhubensi to Tolabang.
Senior Divisional Engineer at the Infrastructure Development Office, Rajesh Ulek, said that nearly 100 meters of road in Balute has collapsed due to river erosion, making regular road operation difficult for now.
According to him, it is even risky to walk on the damaged road. To make the road usable again, a permanent wall will need to be built along the riverbank.
Ulka said the reconstruction of the Beni–Panabagar section is estimated to cost Rs 46.25 million, while reconstruction of the Balute section of the Panabagar–Darbang section is estimated at Rs 22.74 million.
He shared the provincial government has allocated Rs 2.5 million for the reconstruction of the Balaut road and the work will begin right after Dashain.
Currently, the office reported that traffic is being operated one-way from Beni to Dhukhukhola bridge and then via an alternative road to Tolabang, Darbang, and Muna after clearing landslides.
Out of the 24 kilometers road from Beni to Darbang, 16.4 kilometers is paved. Except for six kilometers, the 18-kilometer section from Darbang to Muna along the Dharapani–Jhindada route is still under construction.
The road connecting Beni–Darbang–Muna–Jaljala–Dhorpatan, considered an alternative to the Baglung section of the Mid-Hill Highway, is an important route for the residents of western Myagdi.
In the past winter, the route of the road connecting Muna to Dhorpatan Valley via Khoriya, Mareni, Jaljala, and Gurjaghat had been opened.
