Muglin-Pokhara Road Upgraded to 4 Lanes After 50 Years (Photos/Video)


The Muglin–Pokhara road, a vital part of the Prithvi Highway and a key route for Gandaki Province, has been expanded to four lanes nearly five decades after it was first built. The 79-kilometer stretch from Aanbukhaireni in Tanahun to Pokhara now features four lanes in regular areas and six lanes through busy towns like Dumre, Damauli, and Pokhara.

While the section from Muglin to Aanbukhaireni remains two lanes, the four-lane upgrade begins from Aanbukhaireni. The improved road is closer to international standards, and drone footage shows infrastructure quality that resembles that of developed countries.

According to the project office, the first phase of blacktopping on the eastern section (Aanbukhaireni to Pokhara) has been completed using a durable, high-quality asphalt mix. Project engineer Bishnu Pandey said the second phase is underway and expected to finish within the extended deadline in mid-July. Of the 18 bridges along this stretch, 17 are complete. The only remaining one is an arch bridge over the Madi River in Tanahun, where most of the foundation work is done.

The eastern section is being built by China Communication Construction at a cost of Rs 6.21 billion. Originally set for completion by mid-April 2024, delays have led to multiple deadline extensions.

On the western side, from Jamune to Pokhara, work is being handled by China's Anhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction, under a Rs 7.4 billion contract (not including the Seti River bridge), awarded in May 2021. Project head Krishna Bahadur Kunwar said that about 53% of the work is complete. Blacktopping is finished on one side of 36.8 kilometers, and the first phase is done on 26 kilometers. Only 1.7 kilometers of first-phase blacktopping remains. The second phase will begin in the next fiscal year. Construction of the Seti River bridge is halfway done.

The road upgrade is a major relief for residents of Tanahun, Gorkha, Kaski, Syangja, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Mustang, and Manang, who long struggled with the old, narrow, and deteriorated road.

As Pokhara, a top tourist destination, becomes more accessible, the new highway is expected to boost tourism and economic growth in the region. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in response to increasing traffic demands.

Originally planned in 1969, the Prithvi Highway connects Naubise in Dhading to Pokhara in Kaski, covering 173 kilometers. Over 50 years later, the long-awaited upgrade of the Muglin–Pokhara section is finally taking shape.

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