Rasuwa-Kerung Road Spells New Heights in Trade and Tourism
Nepal now have its second motor able entry point into Tibet, and
it could soon outperform the existing Kodari route.
The 16-km Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi gravel track will be ready next
week after completion of work on the remaining 200 meters, according to the
Ministry of Physical Planning and Works. Reaching Rasuwagadhi by motor able
road would provide a passage to Kerung in Tibet, where China has long been
investing heavily to develop it as a largest ever trade centre.
China has already constructed a 22 km connecting road from Kerung
to the Rasuwagadhi border, which is about 84 km from Trishuli in Nepal. Taking
into account the distance from Kathmandu, it is not a shorter route compared
to the Kodari route to Khasa. However, it could usher in a new era of
Nepal-Tibet trade after it is connected to the Prithvi Highway by the 18 km
Trishuli-Galchhi road which is under-construction under an ADB grant and set
for completion in two years.
"The whole nation will have easier connection to Tibet
through this road," said Joint-Secretary Tulsi Sitaula, chief of
Construction Department at the ministry. "Getting so close a connection to
a major highway will take Nepal-Tibet trade to a new height."
The single-lane track measuring only 16 km cost the government of
China Rs 1.25 billion, thanks to the difficult terrain. China employed its own
workforce for the entire construction.
Meanwhile, China is working on a war footing to build a new city
in Kerung valley.
According to experts who are aware of China´s Nepal-Tibet trade
strategy, Kerung will probably replace Khasa which is already congested and has
no space for extension owing to the arduous lay of the land. While building
skyscrapers, deluxe hotels and roads, China has even subsidized the residents
of Kerung to go for modern houses.
While racing with urbanization, Kerung is also going to dovetail
with the Lhasa-Beijing railway, which is now being extended to Sigatshe.
"From Sigatshe it will turn to Kerung as China is clear that extending it
to Khasa is not viable and useful," said Maheshwor Lal Shrestha, ex-chief
of the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi Road Project.
According to Sitaula, the Rasuwa route to Tibet could also make it
a big in tourism. "It cuts nearly 200 km, the distance from Tatopani to
Rasuwa, en route to Mansarobar from Nepal," he said.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has recently decided to open the
Kerung border to tourists from the beginning of January. Prior to this, the
border was open only for trade purposes.
Technically, the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road is more reliable than
the Kodari Highway, said Sitaula. "Except one point at Mulkharka in Rasuwa
where there is persistent landslide which is a phenomenon in hills, the entire
road is well-built and durable," he added. The road has nine big bridges.
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