After more than a decade of delay, the long-awaited upgrading of the Nagma–Gamgadhi road has finally moved forward, offering hope for improved connectivity in Karnali Province.
The government has approved multi-year funding for the project in the current fiscal year, making it the only national highway so far to receive such clearance. Authorities have already called for bids to upgrade a 15-kilometre stretch of the 93-kilometre road into a two-lane standard.
The road, which links Kalikot and Jumla to Mugu district headquarters Gamgadhi, has remained largely unpaved despite its strategic and economic importance. Only six kilometres have been blacktopped so far, all within Jumla. Gamgadhi, the district headquarters of Mugu, still lacks access to a paved road.
The track for the road was opened over a decade ago, with construction starting in 2006 and completed in 2012. However, the absence of funding and shifting government priorities stalled further development for years.
Officials say the latest progress follows renewed political attention and approval from the Ministry of Finance. The 15-kilometre upgrade is estimated to cost around Rs 910 million, while completing the entire road could require up to Rs 4 billion.
The route holds added importance as it provides access to key cultural and tourist sites, including Rara Lake, Chhayanath, and the historic Sinja Valley. It also connects to routes leading toward the Nepal-China border.
Despite the breakthrough, many other proposed national road projects are still awaiting funding approval. Officials cite policy delays and election-related restrictions as key reasons for the slowdown.
For residents of Mugu, the upgrade signals long-overdue progress, though full connectivity remains a distant goal.