Absence of concrete ramps bothers locals

By Laxman Paudel,Bhairahawa, Apr. 7: The long-awaited completion of the bridge over the Tinau River has become a matter of frustration for residents of Kotahimai Rural Municipality of Rupandehi. Despite starting construction three years ago to connect Kotahimai Rural Municipality-2 with Ward No.5, the project remains incomplete.

Locals are facing numerous challenges due to the absence of concrete ramps on both sides of the bridge. Locals are compelled to rely on bamboo ladders to access the suspension bridge.

Bamboo ladders placed at both edges of the under-construction bridge are broken and making it difficult for residents to traverse back and forth. Despite years of waiting, the locals are still forced to depend on the bamboo ladder for commuting to and from the suspension bridge.

The bamboo ladder located at Kotahimai-5 is broken, and the condition of the bamboo ladders placed towards ward-2 is also the same. Due to the low water level in the Tinau River, many people opt to travel through the river instead of using the bamboo ladder, fearing the risk of falling.

Ramjeet Maurya from Kotahimai-2 expressed dissatisfaction about a promise made by a political leader during the previous elections. According to Maurya, the party leader visited their doorsteps during the last elections, and had assured to complete the bridge construction on stipulated time. However, none have remained true to their words, he added. 

He lamented, “Once the election is won, nobody seems to take notice of the hardships endured by the people.” Maurya pointed out that due to the absence of road infrastructure and stairs leading to the bridge, they were compelled to take risks while traveling.

The students are unable to wear shoes to school as they must cross the river, said Maurya, a ninth grader student at Public Vision School in Majhigaon. “In school, our teachers scold us for not wearing shoes,” added Maurya. “But we can’t wear school shoes as we have to cross the river.”

Recalling a harrowing incident while climbing the bamboo stairs, Maurya recounted how his friend, Harishchandra Maurya broke his limbs while descending the bamboo ladder.

Head of the technical branch of the rural municipality, engineer Nabaraj Bhandari said that Rs. 1 million had been allocated for the construction of the bridge's ramp in the current financial year.

According to Bhandari, a consumer’s committee was formed for the construction of the bridge and instruction was issued to complete the construction by February 9, 2021. As the work was not completed during that period, the deadline was extended for six months, until May 6, 2021. 

The work could not be completed even during the extended time, he said adding, “Consequently, on the Nov 12, 2021, the deadline was once again extended for six months.” Following that, the village assembly on November 16, 2022 decided to extend the deadline for eight months, he added. 

Despite the completion of the bridge construction within that timeframe, the Beninagar Suspension Bridge Construction Consumer Committee failed to construct ramps on both sides of the bridge, citing the reasons of insufficient funds and the escalating cost of construction materials.  Consequently, the bridge remains incomplete for an extended period, said Bhandari. According to the rural municipality, a total of Rs.8,081,678 have been spent so far on the construction of the bridge.

The rural municipality has allocated Rs.4,212,468 for labour and piling. According to Engineer Bhandari, out of which Rs.3,609,597 has been paid. Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal said that in response to the complaints of locals, he has issued instructions to expedite the remaining construction work of the bridge.

“I will evaluate the ground situation and once I understand the reality, I will coordinate efforts to ensure the construction progresses,” he added.