Korala Customs Office wears a deserted look as usual. The office, which sees activities only two times in a year during the business fair, is close to the road that connects Korala (Nepal-China border point). Locals feel happy when they see staffers working at the office.

However, it’s already been two years when the construction of road that connects Korala border was started. Locals have been disheartened with having to travel by one-way off-road from Jomsom to Korala.

Bothered by the road’s pathetic condition, locals have been raising the demand for constructing better roads when the leaders come for canvassing votes for parliamentary and provincial elections as they did during the local level polls.

When asked what you expect from candidates, most of the people said that if the road was constructed without any delay, Upper Mustang would be an important place in the world.

It has been learnt that the staffers at the office do not stay at the office due to poor condition of the road.

Locals blame the condition of roads for the long closure of Korala border and lack of activity at customs office.

“We are desperately waiting for the voting day despite bone-chilling weather in the village,” said Tashi Norbu Gurung of Chonhup, Lomanthang Rural Municity-3, adding, “Candidates should take initiatives to construct the road.”

“If the road is constructed, our business will be good and we don’t have to go to other districts,” he further said.

Raju Gurung, another local from the municipality, said that the government should deploy winning candidates to open Korala border and construct road.

Chonhup WomenGroup Chairperson Dhiki Gurung said that they will cast votes to the candidates who commit to construct the road.

“We want road, our village will be heaven once the road is constructed. Whoever wins the elections, road should be constructed,” she added.

Two years ago the government had allocated Rs 2.5 billion for the construction of 110-km road from Jomsom to Korala. Under the allocated budget, Rs 390 million has been doled out in 2016.

Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung, Gulmi, Palpa and Nawalparasi districts lies in between Korala to Gaindakot of Nawalparasi in the Kaligandaki Corridor Road.

The road is being constructed with an objective to connect Tarai areas of Nawalparasi to Korala border of China.

The road is 435-km long from Gaindakot to Korala. All the voters in the areas want the road to be upgraded.