Commuters fear crossing rickety 27-year-old Kaligandaki bridge

By Tilachan Pandey

Tamghas, Nov. 2: The motorable bridge constructed over the Kaligandaki River in 1995 by the Italian government during the construction of the Kaligandaki Hydropower Project-A to connect Harmichaur of Gulmi and Mirmi of Syangja district is now in a dilapidated condition. 

The bridge not only connects two districts but Gandaki and Lumbini Provinces as well. However, the important bridge is now on the verge of collapse. 

However, vehicles en-route to Purtighat, Gulmi, and Baglung from Pokhara and Butwal are bound to cross the 27-year-old bridge risking life of the passengers. 

The bridge has also been repaired a few times due to which it is still standing, but the commuters fear that it would collapse anytime soon.

“The bridge is on the verge of collapse, one can easily notice this with his naked eyes. Concerned authorities are not aware about the devastation it can cause,” said Tilak Rana, a local.

The locals argued that the politicians have turned a blind eye towards the bridge but have lobbied to construct bridges in the places where there is no river and road.

Meanwhile, the local government officials informed that a process to construct a new strong bridge over the river was underway.

“I had lobbied for a new bridge to replace the damaged one in the past two years. The design for a bridge has already been prepared by the Road Division and the tender process is underway,” said Bed Bahadur Thapa, chairman of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality.