Bridge construction snag hits development work in Banke

BY SIRAJ KHAN,Nepalgunj, Apr. 18: Development works in Banke have come to a standstill, as the construction company has failed to complete the construction of several bridges in the district.  

Out of the seven under-construction bridges under the budget of the Lumbini Provincial government, the construction work of five bridges has not been completed yet. Of which, the construction of three bridges was entrusted to Galva/Siddhartha Darshan JV and two to Anjana Yadav JV.

According to senior division engineer Lalit Bahadur Neupane, head of Road Infrastructure Development Office, even after extending the deadline for one year, Galva JV had not been able to complete the construction work of the bridges. Similarly, the contract entrusted to Anjana Yadav JV had also expired but the bridges remain incomplete. 

The Galva JV had signed an agreement on March 3, 2021 to complete the construction of the 25-metre bridge at Kiran canal of Si village in Khajura Rural Municipality-2 by July 9, 2022. But so far only 35 per cent work has been done.

At the same time, Galva JV had also signed a contract to complete the construction of a 25-metre bridge at Kiran canal at Bankhet in Baijnath Rural Municipality-5 and a 25-metre bridge at Kiran canal at Chhatarpur in Janaki Rural Municipality-4 by July 9, 2022. But, the construction company has only completed 40 per cent of the work of both the bridges. The company had signed a contract for the construction of bridge at Si village at Rs. 58.5 million, at Bankhet at Rs. 47.2 million and at Chhatarpur at Rs. 53.2 million. The government had already extended the deadline by one year for the construction company, which is required to complete the construction by July 10, 2023. 

The Road Infrastructure Development Office blamed the company’s negligence for the delay in the construction, informing that the company had completed only 45 per cent of the construction work of the bridge in Khajura Rural Municipality, 50 per cent of the construction work in Bhaijnath Rural Municipality and 30 per cent in Janaki Rural Municipality. 

Meanwhile, Anjana Yadav JV is out of reach at present. Neupane said that although the contract deadline for the two bridges being built by the company had expired, the company had not contacted them. The company had signed a contract on September, 2021 for the construction of the 30-meter bridge at Rs. 50 million in Khajura Rural Municipality-5.