Ghami Khola Bridge Nears Completion In Upper Mustang

26 Dec 2025 CW Team

The under-construction Ghami Khola bridge in Loghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality–2 of Upper Mustang, which connects Korala to the Nepal–China border, has reached its final stage, with physical progress touching around 80 per cent.

Efforts are under way to complete the project within the current fiscal year, officials said. The single-span bridge, measuring 40 metres in length, is a key component of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road corridor leading to the Korala checkpoint.

The contract for the bridge was awarded in January 2019 to Himdhung Thokkar & Immortal JV at a cost of Rs 68 million. According to Rural Municipality Chairperson Lopsang Chomphel Bista, while the approach road was completed earlier, construction of the bridge remained stalled for an extended period.

He said vehicular movement across Ghami Khola will become significantly easier once the bridge is operational. Under the original agreement, the project was scheduled for completion by December 2021.

The contractor had cited adverse weather conditions and heavy snowfall as reasons for the delay. However, after repeated failures to resume work, the firm was issued a six-month ultimatum and subjected to daily penalties, including a fine of 0.05 per cent of the contract value.

Project Chief Tejaswi Sharma said that 14 bridges have already been completed along the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road connecting to the Korala border point. He added that the Ghami Khola bridge is also expected to be completed within the current fiscal year.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..