The Nepali Army has started opening tracks from both ends of the under-construction Darchula-Tinker road section under the Mahakali Corridor, with work now progressing from Dumling and Gaga.

Track excavation has begun from Chhangru Gaga in Byas Rural Municipality-1. Previously, construction activities were limited to Dumling, Kalju, Atungti, Tambaku, and other areas in Ward No. 2 via Byas Rural Municipality-3 Tusarpani. The Army’s construction team has been mobilized to open the 79-kilometer Darchula-Tinker road, having completed 15.2 kilometers of track so far.

According to Nepali Army spokesperson Gaurav Kumar KC, of the 13.4 kilometers of road track opened in 2080/81, two kilometers were upgraded. In the current fiscal year, 1.8 kilometers of track have been opened and 1.2 kilometers upgraded. Due to budget constraints, progress has been slow. Only 9 crores were allocated in the current fiscal year. An additional 5 crores were arranged after construction halted due to lack of funds.

With the latest allocation, the Army is now focused on establishing a camp in Chhangru, Byas Rural Municipality-1, and mobilizing excavators, compressor machines, gelatin, and other construction materials. A 200-meter track has been opened in the rocky Phatangad area near Tusarpani, along with 500 meters of new track in Atungti and over 500 meters in the Tambaku area of Byas Rural Municipality-2.

Work is also ongoing to open a 200-meter track connecting the lower Tambaku area this year. “Construction is being carried out from both ends,” said KC. “We plan to open two kilometers of track from Chhangru this year. Since the terrain in the upper area lacks hard rocks, progress is relatively easier.”

Road construction is also underway in the Mal, Kothdhar, Saganadi, Dumling, Kalju, and Tambaku areas of Byas Rural Municipality-3, Tusarpani, Ward No. 2. Vehicles have been operating on a five-kilometer stretch from the road section's zero point to Malgaun since the last week of Magh.

Since its initiation in fiscal year 2077/78, the Army has completed only 15 kilometers of track. An engineer involved in the project said the five-year completion goal was not met due to budget limitations. Until heavy equipment is fully transported to the site, locals from Byas Rural Municipality-2 have been mobilized to assist with road excavation.

Hitesh Budhathoki, a ward member from Tinkar in Byas Rural Municipality-1, welcomed the Army’s work from both directions but stressed the need for more funding. Ward Chair Ashok Singh Bohara echoed this, calling the 5 crores received last Falgun insufficient and urging the government to allocate sufficient budget for the road as a priority.

On Baisakh 22, a delegation led by former Minister Ganesh Singh Thagunna met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and demanded the allocation of at least 50 crores for the Tusarpani-Tinker road. Thagunna noted that while India is upgrading the Lipulekh-Kalapani road to two lanes, Nepal must prioritize progress on its side as well.