Humla, Oct 29: Travelling on the Humla-Surkhet road is grueling for both passengers and the drivers alike. Travelers are having a hard time because the Humla-Surkhet road is in bad shape. Whether in fair weather or bad, landslides keep happening at many places along this road also known as the Karnali Corridor Highway, making it difficult to travel.
This reality of the Karnali Corridor has once again raised questions about the government’s role in road construction, upgrading, and management.
Nawaraj Rawat from Jaira, Sarkegaad Rural Municipality-1, expressed anger about the condition of the Karnali Corridor after completing a risky three-day journey from Humla to Surkhet.
He complained that the Karnali Corridor Highway, an important road connecting Jamunaha in Nepalgunj to Hilsa, near the Nepal-China border in Humla, is in such a poor shape that it is like a punishment. But the sad thing is that the road has not been repaired and upgraded for years.
According to Rawat, even though one often hears about grand narratives of Karnali’s development and prosperity from politicians to policy-makers over the last decade or so, the people of Karnali still haven’t been able to travel on safe roads.
Even though the budget has been spent for years on road construction and upgrading, he pointed out that citizens have not been able to experience smooth travel, drawing the attention of the federal and Karnali provincial governments.
He raised questions about the quality of road structures built in risky spots along the road, pointing out the need to monitor construction and the effectiveness of budget spending. He said that the real condition of the road can be understood only after people personally experience the daily difficulties they face.
Dil Bahadur Karki, who has been running a hotel business in Khachcha, Ward 1 of Sarkegad Rural Municipality, complained that he has suffered because the road hasn’t been upgraded. Similarly, Nawaraj Mahatara, a local, pointed out the risky condition of the Kabadi–Salisalla road section as a serious challenge.
Local residents have said that the dangerous condition of the road not only causes problems for passenger and goods transport but also makes it difficult to move in emergencies.
The Karnali Corridor is an important route that connects Humla to the national road network. This road is directly related to local people’s travel, transportation of food and daily essentials, accessing healthcare facilities, and tourism, but due to the risky condition of the road, people haven’t been able to have easy and safe travel.
Even though problems like landslides and road blockages occur due to natural disasters, it is the responsibility of the concerned authorities to reduce risks, carry out regular maintenance, and ensure the quality of constructed structures to make travel safe and easy.
The people of Karnali do not just expect promises and speeches about development. They want safe roads and reliable transportation. This is the question raised by the tough three-day journey from Sarkegad to Surkhet.
When will the government take effective steps to reduce risks and improve the Karnali Corridor? This is the question people of Karnali, especially of Humla, have for the government.
