Lack of road on Nepali side is hampering the trade
Mustang, June 20, 2016:Â China has extended its road connectivity to the Korala border point in Mustang district in order broaden the long-term business relationship with Nepal. In the last five months, China built the 20 km road stretch connecting to Nepal.
As China opened the border point for trade purpose for 25 days starting June 15, vehicles from China entered Nepal through this newly formed dirt track. However, Nepali traders are not being able to exploit this opportunity to import goods in substantial quantity due to Nepal’s failure to extend road and other infrastructures in its side.
Armed Police Force DSP Dil Prasad Bhatta viewed that the border point could be a trade hub in near future as China is currently blacktopping the dirt track and planning to operate vehicles all round the year.
DSP Bhatta who recently visited the Chinese side of the border said, “The prospect of Korala border point being developed as a trade hub looks promising after the extension of the road. However, the import-export expectation has not been met because of failure on Nepal’s part to develop roads.â€
Due to damaged roads along the way to the Korala border point, businessmen have been facing problems in transporting their goods. Vehicles have not been able to cross the swollen river along the way due to the contractor’s ignorance in building bridge.
As a result of the blockade that crippled entire country last year, Nepal government started holding parleys with Chinese authority to resume Sino-Nepal borders on the north. Following this, China started constructing the road connecting Korala point. However, inability of Nepal government to punish the defaulting contractor even after being proven guilty has caused disruption in the road development process in Nepali side.
By Binod Tripathi
