Alternative route built as bridge construction remains in limbo for 10 years

By Yadavraj Puri,Rautahat, Nov. 14: Ishnath Municipality has constructed an alternative road to cross the Lalbakaiya River, as the construction of a concrete bridge over it in Tikauli, Rautahat, has not been completed in over 10 years.

District Headquarters Gaur and Ishnath Municipalities have constructed an alternative route to cross the river by laying Hume pipes after the bridge construction got delayed. This alternative route has facilitated the movement of the locals.

Nanda Kishor Gupta, Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, said that the municipality has constructed an alternative route after the water level in the river receded. 

He said that the alternative route eliminates the need to travel 20 to 22 kilometres to reach the district headquarters. 

Jayantimala, a farmer from Banjaraha, said that the alternative route has made it much easier to reach Gaur, the district headquarters and village across the Lalbakaiya. 

Recalling that five people were killed in a boat accident at the same place in the past, she said," It felt frightening during the boat ride, but after this route was built it has made our travel easier," she added. 

Although Rautahat is an urban district of  the Tarai, due to the lack of timely construction of the concrete bridge, the people of Banjaraha, Auraiya, Mathia and Ishnath Municipality across the Lalbakaiya River are forced to undertake risky travel by boat to reach the district headquarters during the rainy season. 

The then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala laid the foundation stone of the bridge at Tikulia Ghat on July 13, 2014.

Pappu Construction, which was entrusted with the construction of the bridge, had signed the contract for Rs. 149.227 million. The bridge was supposed to be completed and handed over by July 9, 2017.  The contract was terminated after it was not completed even after a decade.