Myagdi. MYAGDI, Aug 12: Construction of a road linking Gurja village of Dhawalagiri rural municipality-1 in Myagdi district has reached the final stage.

Under the Lulang-Gurja road project, an additional four kilometers track (road) is to be constructed in the current fiscal year. In the previous three years, around 18-km road was opened from Lulang to Bhaisinane with investment from the rural municipality, state and federal governments.

Vice-chairperson of Dhawalagiri rural municipality, Resham Pun Magar, said that an additional three kilometers road has been opened from Bhaisimane to Paltan. “Gurja will be connected to the road network with the opening of additional two kilometers of the road”, he said. If the work is done, then the road will reach Gurja in ten days a week. You can go by car. ”

Lulu Construction, which was selected through the project in the current fiscal year with a budget of Rs 17 million, had signed the contract for Rs 88.85 million in December last year. Lulang-Gurja Dhawalagiri Rural Municipality has been prioritized as the pride project that started from the fiscal year 2079÷80, said Rural Municipality Chair Prem Prasad Pun.

Until two years ago, one had to trek up and down cliffs, forests and streams for an entire day to reach Lulang from Gurja. Jhak Chhantyal, ward chairman of Dhawalagiri-1, said that it takes 20 minutes to reach Gurja from Paltan.

“The people of Gurja are happy and excited with the arrival of road and vehicles near the village”, he said. The people of Gurja were excited when the vehicles started coming near the village. ”

It takes two hours and 30 minutes to reach Muna, Beni in five hours and Pokhara in seven hours. Gorkha Chhantyal, a local, said that they had to trek for a whole day to reach Muna from Gurja before this. With the operation of vehicles, it has become easier to take patients to hospitals, to market agriculture, livestock products and herbs. The number of tourists has increased in Gurja district.

The federal government has allocated Rs 30 million from the Ministry of Urban Development and Rs 5 million from the Gandaki Province government for the construction of roads in the current fiscal year.

The state government has initiated the construction of a 25-metre-long motorable bridge over Darkhola at Lamsung along the road linking Gurja to Gurja district. Locals of Gurja have launched a donation campaign for the construction of a bailey bridge over Kamjakhola. It has become easier to transport daily essentials, construction materials and patients to hospitals on time.

Out of 45 local levels in Myagdi, Gurja is the only ward without road transport facility. The population of Gurja is 1,505 with 265 households in a single ward.