The Muglin–Pokhara road, part of the Prithvi Highway and the lifeline of Gandaki Province, has been upgraded to a four-lane route nearly five decades after its initial construction. The 79-kilometer stretch from Aanbukhaireni in Tanahun to Pokhara has been widened to four lanes in general areas and six lanes through major towns.
While the Muglin to Aanbukhaireni segment remains a two-lane road, the upgrade begins from Aanbukhaireni onward. In towns like Dumre, Damauli, and Pokhara, the road expands to six lanes, bringing the Prithvi Highway closer to international standards. Drone visuals of the highway reflect an infrastructure quality reminiscent of developed countries.
According to the project office, the first phase of blacktopping has been completed on the eastern section (Aanbukhaireni to Pokhara). The road, previously paved with a 6 cm asphalt layer, has now been upgraded by adding 4 cm more using high-quality asphalt technology, considered both premium and durable. Project Engineer Bishnu Pandey stated that the second phase of blacktopping is progressing simultaneously and is expected to be completed within the extended contract deadline.
The deadline for the eastern section has been extended for the third time to second week of July , and construction is ongoing to meet the target. Out of 18 bridges on this section, 17 have been completed. Only the arch-designed bridge over the Madi River in Tanahun remains under construction, with its foundation completed and 4 out of 6 slabs expected to be finished within the current fiscal year.
The eastern section contract was awarded to China Communication Construction with a target completion by mid-April 2024 at a cost of Rs 6.21 billion. Due to delays, the deadline has been extended multiple times.
Meanwhile, the western section—from Jamune to Pokhara—was contracted to China’s Anhui Kaiyuan Highway and Bridge Construction on mid May, 2021, for Rs 7.4 billion (excluding the Seti River bridge). According to project chief Krishna Bahadur Kunwar, the 38.88-kilometer section has seen 53 per cent physical progress. Blacktopping has been completed on one side of 36.8 kilometers, with the first phase completed on 26 kilometers of the four-lane road.
Only 1,700 meters of the first phase blacktopping remain between Jamune and Pokhara. However, the second phase of blacktopping on the western section is expected to begin only in the next fiscal year. Around 50 per cent work on the bridge over the Seti River has been completed.
The Muglin–Pokhara upgrade offers significant relief for residents of Tanahun, Gorkha, Kaski, Syangja, Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Mustang, and Manang, who previously faced difficulties due to the narrow and deteriorated road conditions.
As the road to Pokhara, one of Nepal’s top tourist destinations, undergoes a transformation, it is expected to boost both tourism and economic activity. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has financed this expansion project in response to rising traffic on the highway.
Originally planned in 1969, the Prithvi Highway stretches from Naubise in Dhading to Pokhara in Kaski, covering 173 kilometers. More than 50 years after its initial construction, the Muglin–Pokhara section has now been upgraded from two to four lanes.
