Contractor flees leaving bridge construction work in limbo

BY RAJKUMAR BHATTARAI,Khotang, Sep.1:The construction of a suspension bridge in Khotang district has not begun even two years after the deadline expired. The suspension bridge will connect Baitar, a village in Ward No. 2 of Halesi Tuwachung Municipality of Khotang, and Chiptar, a village in Ward No. 10 of Katari Municipality of Udayapur district.

The contractor had fled with the construction materials after a tower of the under-construction bridge collapsed in April this year.

Basanta Budhathoki was granted the bridge construction contract at a cost of Rs. 350 million through the Infrastructure Development Office of the Provincial Government in Gaighat. The contract expired on November 12, 2021, and the contractor fled leaving the works incomplete. 

Bishal Rai, Headmaster of Sunkoshi Basic School, said that the base of the tower collapsed a few days after it was erected. He said that nine steps out of the 13 steps were installed in April 2022 and it collapsed a few days after the remaining four steps were installed in April this year.

 However, after the collapse of the tower, the contractor and workers left along with the construction materials.

The collapse did not cause any human casualties as there were no settlements near the construction area in the Udaypur side. The tower built on the Khotang side is also at risk of falling and local residents are living in constant fear. A few shops and a school are located near the rickety bridge tower in Khotang.  

According to contractor Budhathoki, the problem occurred after the bridge tower collapsed due to technical reasons. He said that the old construction materials were taken for the maintenance purpose. 

As transporting the construction materials was difficult during the rainy season, the construction work would resume after monsoon. 

Since there is no bridge in the Sunkoshi, the locals of Dikuwa and Bahunidannda in Halesi Tuwachung Municipality have to cross the river on wooden boats. But boat operations have been suspended after the rise in the water level. Consequently, locals are forced to use another bridge located around 10 km away from the present bridge construction site.