Darchula, June 4: The locals have demanded that the budget allocated for the under-construction Darchula Tusarpani-Chhangru-Tinkar road should be revised and increased. This road is being constructed under the Nepali Army’s management.
Citizens of the border area in Sudurpaschim province have requested to amend the Budget Statement for Fiscal Year 2026/27 unveiled by the government on May 29, arguing that the allocated budget for the road project for the upcoming fiscal year will be insufficient.
For the upcoming fiscal year, Rs 129.9 million has been allocated for the Tusarpani-Chhangaru-Tinkar road. During the budget speech, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle had stated that the Darchula-Tinkar road has been given ‘special priority’.
The Nepali Army has stated that an annual budget of Rs 300 to 350 million is required for road construction. After the formation of the new government, locals hope and believe that the strategically important Tinker Road will gain momentum.
The Army started road construction from the Zero Point of Tusarpani to Tinkar in Byas Rural Municipality-3, covering 79 kilometres, from fiscal year 2077/78. The army has so far opened about 20 kilometers of track. Until the third week of May, vehicles had only reached Dumling.
Hemendra Bohara, a local of Byas Rural Municipality–1, said that although special priority was mentioned in the budget statement for the construction of this road, the time to complete the project could be extended based on the insufficient budget allocated to the project.
According to him, due to the lack of roads, the residents of Chhangaru and Tinkar are still dependent on India for transportation, food, and employment. In the Chhangaru–Tinkar section, there are still 59 kilometers of road construction remaining.
If the current pace of road construction works and the same budget allocation were to be continued, the border residents will not be assured that the road will reach Tinkar. Due to the lack of road access in this area, one has to seek India’s permission to go from one place to another within own country.
Yogesh Singh Bohara of Byas-1 pointed out that the government should address the aspiration of Chhangaru and Tinkar folks.
Padam Badal, Associate professor of Darchula Multiple Campus expressed the view that available resources should be distributed in a proportional and balanced manner after the country adopted a federal system.
The road from Brahmadev of Kanchanpur to Tinkar of Darchula under Mahakali corridor is 413-kilometer long. A target has been set to connect the road up to Tinkar border point of China. The road section would be the shortest and safe to visit Kailash Manasarobar if it is constructed.
Valuable herbs and Mt. Api as well as other touristic places located here would have great contribution in country’s economy.
Similarly, Vice-Chairperson of the rural municipality, Binod Singh Kunwar, mentioned that though some budget has been allocated for Tinkar road this year, it was not satisfactory.
The Nepali Army, which has got responsibility for the construction of this road, has been demanding at least Rs 300-350 million budget annually to break rock and transport machines by helicopter.
Likewise, out of 334-kilometer road under Mahakali Corridor Road, track of 247-kilometer has already been opened and 47-kilometer road has been blacktopped, said project engineer Dinesh Raikhola.
The government has allocated Rs 394.2 million budget for Mahakali corridor project for coming fiscal year.
