Mahakali Highway (National Highway 66, NH66) is a National Highway of Nepal located in Sudur Province. The total length of the highway is 364.93 km (226.76 mi), in which 234.93 km (145.98 mi) of the road has been paved.[1] [2]
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| राष्ट्रिय राजमार्ग ६६ | ||||
| National Highway 66 | ||||
 NH66 in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MoPIT (Department of Roads) | ||||
| Length | 364.94 km (226.76 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| From | Mahakali Khalanga | |||
| To | Dhangadhi | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Nepal | |||
| Provinces | Sudurpashchim | |||
| Districts | Kailali District, Doti District, Dadeldhura District, Baitadi District, Darchula District | |||
| Primary destinations | Patan Municipality, Amargadhi | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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History
editMahakali Highway formerly was a 325 km (201.95 mi) long Highway with the old number H14 connecting Dhangadhi of Kailali District (Western Terai region) to Mahakali Municipality of Darchula District (Lesser Himalayas) passing through Doti District, Dadeldhura District and Baitadi District. The road from Syaule (Dadeldhura) to Satbanj (Darchula) was built with the assistance of USA between 1967 and 1985.[3]
On the closure of roads from Darchula to India by the Indian side on various excuses, Nepal decided to extend the road from Darchula Khalanga (Headquarters) to Chhangru and Tinkar (Great Himalayas).[4] Chhangru, Tinkar and Khalanga are all inside Nepali territory, but one has to pass through Indian territory to get from Khalanga to these two villages, as there were no roads or foot trails on the Nepali side.[5] Nepal Army is working to open a track from Tusarpani to Tinkar in Darchula district. Around 92 km of dirt track—31 km in Dadeldhura, 34 km in Baitadi and 27 km in Darchula—is yet to be opened.[6]
The extension work of Mahakali Highway, NH66 (from Dattu to Tinkar) is being under Mahakali Corridor Project[7][8]
References
edit- ^ "Statics of National Highway 2020_21" (PDF). Nepal in data. Department of Roads (Nepal). 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "Statics of Strategic Road Network". Department of Roads (Nepal). 2023. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
- ^ "SSRN 2017 18". Department of Roads. 2018. Retrieved 27 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Indian side closes down border point in Darchula". The Kathmandu post. 26 Aug 2014. Retrieved 27 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Chhangru and Tinkar locals return home as border opened for a few hours on Thursday". The Kathmandu Post. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 27 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Dirt track opening work completed in Kanchanpur section of Mahakali Corridor". The Kathmandu Post. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 27 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Mahakali corridor: 241-km-long track opened so far in 15 years". My Republica. 4 Jan 2024. Retrieved 28 Jul 2024.
- ^ "Mahakali corridor road project in limbo". The Kathmandu Post. 21 Mar 2023. Retrieved 28 Jul 2024.