Construction of bridge over Ghumaune stalled since 9 yrs

By Amar Raj Naharki, Tanahun, Nov 25: It has been nine years since the start of building the bridge over Ghumaune connecting Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality, Tanahun and Bharatpur Metropolitans City,  but it is yet to see its completion. 

Because of the neglect from the concerned parties, the bridge over Trishuli River connecting Ghumaune Bharatpur-29 and Aanbukhaireni-5, not only got delayed but has been left stranded. 

The target of connecting Pokhara, the capital of the Gandaki Province, to Terai as an alternative shortway of Prithvi Raj Highway is not being able to fructify as the bridge has not been built timely. 

The agreement for the construction of the bridge was signed in June 2014 but it is still at the foundation level. So far, in the name of building a bridge, two pillars on both sides have been fixed. 

The term has been extended multiple times as Road Division Office made an announcement to blacklist them. 

As per the design, the length of the bridge is 105 meters and 11 meters in width including the footpath design. The design was made by the contractor company itself based on design and build. 

The bridge which is being built in modern Arc design has an investment of eight million. It has been mentioned in the design that vehicle mobility will be 7.5 meters in the two-lane bridge. 

According to Division Road, Damauli the Mrit Sanjiwani Nirman Sewa Private Limited has bagged the contract, and so far, only 30 per cent of construction has been completed so far.  

The passersby are not being able to breathe a sigh of relief nor is the cost of fuel reduced as the construction of the bridge is being delayed. 

Laxmi KC, Chief Senior Engineer of the Division Road, Damauli, of the Department of Roads under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport said that the company is delaying the project, and is giving different reasons to delay it.  Preparation is being made to blacklist the company as the work has not seen completion despite extending time. 

Shukra Chuman, ward chair of the Aanboo Khaireni Rural Municipality, said that the concerned authority has been called for attention multiple times as the construction of the bridge has not caught pace, because of the slow pace of the construction company.  

He said that the distance between Ghumaune from Damauli is 32 kilometers. 30 kilometers will be reduced in the travel from Narayanghat to Damauli through Buddhasingh Roadway if the bridge sees its completion, which will reduce the consumption of fuels. 

After the completion of the bridge, locals of Pokhara, Baglung, Syangja and Damauli do not have to use the roads of Muglin, Aanbukhaireni and Dumre to visit Chitwan.  

The bridge will be 11 meters in width including a footpath. There will be 7.5 meters for vehicle mobility in the two lanes. The small buses are being run from Damauli to Ghumaune, but, they cannot reach Narayanghat to Mugling Road due to the lack of a bridge.

The quality of the road is being constructed from Damauli to Ghumaune. Currently, they go to Damauli through Muglin, Aanboo Khaireni and Dumre. There is a hurdle in mobility for the locals of Dharampani, Pyughar, and Sarangghat because of a lack of motor-able bridges.