Kathmandu, Oct 4: Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s proposed East West Himalayan Tourism Highway, envisioned as a project to unlock Nepal’s tourism potential, has drawn concerns over its possible impact on the fragile Himalayan environment and centuries old trekking routes.
The government has allocated Rs 41.95 million in fiscal year 2026/27 for a detailed feasibility study. The proposed two-lane highway would connect 16 Himalayan districts, stretching from Pathibhara in Taplejung to Api Nampa in Darchula.
The route would pass through major tourism, religious and trekking destinations, including Saipal, Badimalika, Rara, Jumla, Dunai, Kagbeni, Muktinath, Thorong La, Langtang, Helambu, Kalinchok, Jiri and Lukla.
The project stems from Shah’s election campaign. Addressing a Rastriya Swatantra Party rally in Dhangadhi, Shah had argued that Nepal’s mountains and highlands rival Europe and Switzerland but remain underdeveloped because of poor branding and infrastructure.
He cited Badimalika as an example of a destination with global tourism potential but inadequate access. After becoming prime minister, Shah gave priority to linking Himalayan tourism with the national economy through improved road connectivity.
However, the proposal has faced criticism even from lawmakers of the ruling party.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, RSP parliamentary party whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar warned that road construction should not destroy Nepal’s traditional trekking tourism.
He called for the proposed route to be remapped using GPS data and designed around a local model that balances development, tourism and preservation of traditional character.
Pariyar also urged the government to align the highway project with its plan to upgrade the Great Himalayan Trail as a strategic tourism corridor.
He said Nepal’s trail, passing eight mountains above 8,000 metres and settlements representing thousands of years of human civilisation, offers something distinct from famous international trails.
Poorly planned road construction has already eroded the character of routes including the Annapurna Circuit, Kali Gandaki and Jomsom Lo Manthang, he said, calling for the new highway alignment to be scientifically designed and environmentally sensitive.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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