Bridge found being constructed far away from designated site

BY NAVARAJ KATTEL,Biratnagar, Feb. 9: Almost seven years after the construction began, an under-construction bridge was found but in a different location in Sunsari. 

Constructed under the Sunsari-Morang Bridge Project, the bridge was unexpectedly found in a different area within Barju Rural Municipality, Sunsari.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport started the construction of the Sunsari-Morang Bridge Project in 2017/2018. Shankaramali Kirateswar J.V. Koteshwor was awarded a contract for the construction of the project at Rs. 61.8 million.

The ministry had instructed the construction company to build the bridge over the Tengra River in the area that falls in the erstwhile Amaduwa Village Development Committee’s Ward Nos. 5 and 8. The area now falls under Barju Rural Municipality-4.

However, the bridge was discovered being constructed at Pasaman Tole of Sitagunj, which falls within Ward No. 7 of the former Amahibella Village Development Committee in Sunsari, as well as Ward No. 5 of the Ramganj Belgachhia Rural Municipality. The location where the bridge is being constructed currently lies within Ward No. 5 and 2 of Barju Rural Municipality.

The plan for the construction of the bridge was designated over the Tengra River in Barju Rural Municipality 4. However, it has been discovered that the budget allocated for the purpose has been misused, resulting in the construction of the bridge at a different location from the previously designated site. 

The local authorities expressed concern upon discovering the construction of the bridge in a different location. 

Jibachhu Kumar Rai, Chairman of Barju Rural Municipality, has informed that the ministry has been formally notified to construct the bridge in the place where it was originally designated with the allocated budget after Rs. 8.93 million was allocated for the bridge in the current fiscal year.

All infrastructure projects under the Bridge Construction Project have now been transferred to the Road Division Office in Biratnagar. 

Rajendra Prasad Sah, Head of the Road Division Office, said that upon investigation, it was discovered that the construction of the bridge was carried out at a different location from one initially specified.

The Road Division Office in Biratnagar conducted on-site monitoring. “We have identified an error in the construction site, and we will take steps to rectify it,” Sah said. 

As the bridge was constructed away from the original location after the budget was released, the only option is to revise the location and ensure its proper implementation, he added.

The construction company has also delayed completing the bridge. Although the construction of the bridge was mandated to begin in 2017, only 65 per cent of the work has been completed so far, but the construction company has already received 60 per cent payment, amounting to Rs. 33.2 million.

The final payment of the bridge being constructed by Shankaramali Kirateswar JV under the contract of ‘SMBCP-16-073-074’ was revoked on June 28, 2021. After that, the construction company did not return to the construction site.

Sah said that he has been in regular contact with the construction company to ensure the implementation of the work using the allocated budget of Rs. 8.9 million for the current fiscal year. He also said that the construction company has been requested to complete the bridge at its current location, and discussions are underway to incorporate a new plan where necessary.

Anil Mandal, representative of the construction company, said that construction work was halted last year due to the need to revise the bridge design. Although the length specified in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was 35 metres, it has been adjusted to 36 metres to align with field observations and requirements.

Mandal asserted that the construction work on the bridge would commence within a week. He also said that the bridge was built at the location specified by the project implementing agency and the local authorities at that time.

One local, Om Prakash Mehata, alleged that the bridge was constructed to connect a secondary road leaving the main road. He claimed that the chairman of another ward misused the letter pad of the concerned ward to recommend building the bridge four kilometres north of its original location.

The Tangra River bridge construction location recommended in Barju Ward No. 5 letterhead aligns with the map of Barju Rural Municipality Ward No. 5 and 2. However, recent correspondence said that the former Amaduwa VDC Ward No. 5 and 8 are now part of Barju Rural Municipality Ward No. 4, including the Tengra area.