After more than two decades of effort, Simkot—the district headquarters of Humla in Karnali Province—has been officially connected to Nepal’s national road network. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated a Bailey bridge over the Chuwakhola river on Sunday, completing the long-delayed link along the Karnali corridor.

Constructed by the Nepal Army in just 35 days, the bridge connects Simkot with the southern Khulalu section in Kalikot and the northern border point of Hilsa. The 505-km route now allows uninterrupted vehicular travel from the Indian border town of Rupaidiha to the Chinese town of Hilsa for the first time.

Efforts to link Simkot began in 1997 following a famine-related influenza outbreak. Over the years, funding came from local bodies, the World Food Programme, and later, the federal government. The Nepal Army took charge of construction in 2015, with the full road track completed in 2024 at a cost of around Rs7 billion.

Officials and locals say the connection will boost trade, tourism, and access to basic services across the Karnali region.