Meant to be complete in 2019, bridge over Barjugad river still in limbo

By Sher Bahadur Sarki, Bajura, Jan 2: The construction of the 45-meter-long bridge over the Barjugad river in the Belamandau Delta road section of the Budhiganga municipality in Bajura is being impeded. 

The Saud Adventure JV undertook the project by bagging Rs 20 million with the target to complete it by July 2019. 

A local of the Cheddaha-3 said that the construction of the bridge which was started seven years ago is still incomplete, because of which the bridge is now stranded. 

Khadak Khadka, a local of the Pudayaula, Khaptad Cheddaha Rural Municipality-3, said that because of the lack of completion of the construction of the bridge over the Barjugad river located in the middle of the Budhiganga Municiplaity-4 and Khaptad Cheddaha Rural Municipality-3, which was started seven years back, is yet to be completed, locals are compelled to cross the river with great difficulty. 

His shop is by the river, and the bridge is incomplete till now. Many children are faced with the challenge of commuting to school in the rainy season because of the lack of a bridge over a river that swells in the rainy season. He said that last year he helped children cross the river by carrying them on his back. 

He said, "The deadline for completing the bridge crosses, contractors add the time and it has been repeating the same for the last seven years, but, our problem remains unhinged."

District Development Committee Bajura gave the project in Rs 20 million to Saud Adventure JV in the fiscal year 2072/73 with a target to complete it by the fiscal year 2075/76. 

Local Khadka pointed out the inability of the contractor as the reason for the unfinished construction of the bridge, because of which the bridge is left stranded now.  

He said that the contractor has become out of contact since a long period of time. 

Ishwor Saud, Proprietor of the Saud Adventure said that the ground where the first layout was done was swept away by the flood, and soil testing was done to find out another suitable ground for bridge construction, which ended up taking much time, so the project has been delayed. 

He said, "The construction is undergoing in another place after the soil testing report came out, the 50 per cent of bridge construction is completed now." 

"The truss bridge needs to be constructed over Barjugad. Some utilities are joined by the company in its place, but, it is difficult to commute them in small vehicles. There is no road to pass large vehicles. This had delayed the construction of the bridge, "he said.

Rudra Bahadur Bogate, Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Safebagar said that the Infrastructure Development Office, Safebagar has taken responsibility to construct the bridge as a new formation of the District Development Committee has been dissolved. 

Chief Bogate pointed out the negligence of the contractor for failing to construct the bridge.

He said, "The term has been added for another year, if the contractor fails to complete the construction within a given time frame, then, we will seek out other options."