Galkot Municipality of Baglung had enlisted Malma-Righa link road as its pride project in its annual budget last fiscal year. The provincial government and the municipality had allocated Rs 5 million each to upgrade the 21km-long road that links Righa with Malma.

The road’s upgradation work was divided into three parts, with one part completing upgradation last year.

But this year, the municipality has not allocated any budget to complete the upgradation work, although there were plans to extend the upgradation work of the road from Righa to Pandavkhani and Ranasinkiteni.

Locals have expressed their dissatisfaction on the municipality’s failure to prioritise its pride project, which stands to benefit the locals.

Thousands of people in Righa, Sisakhani and Pandavkhani of Galkot and Ranasinkiteni and Jalaal of Badigada Rural Municipality are depending on the road upgradation to ease transportation.

“I don’t think that the road section is a pride project for the municipality anymore,” said Mitralal Kharel, a local. “The road upgradation work was carried out well last year. But the road project did not receive budget from the federal, provincial and the local governments this fiscal. The municipality should continue allocating budget to complete the upgradation work.”

With last year’s budget, the project had widened the track, placed drainage pipes and built retaining wall. “We planned to complete the work this year, but the municipal council did not issue budget this year,” said Lal Prasad Gharti, the chairman of the road consumers’ committee. He urged the authorities to correct its decision and allocate budget. “Budget should be allocated to the pride project at least for three consecutive years,” he added.

The municipality also has plans to develop Righa as a tourist destination. However, given the poor condition of the roads in the area, tourism hasn’t been able to pick up. “The road is narrow and rough, and cuts through cliffs. So people are afraid to travel on this road,” said Gharti.

In the last fiscal year, Galkot Municipality had selected a pride project each in all its 11 wards and allocated a budget of Rs 5 to 6.5 million each. Nothing of the sort has been carried out this year.