Bridge construction over Rapti gathers pace

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Nov. 29: The construction of a new bridge over the Rapti River at Sidhania Ghat along the Nepalgunj–Baghauda–Ageya road section of the Postal Highway is now gathering pace. 

The project was initiated after the old bridge at the site became too narrow to handle the pressure of increasing vehicular movements.

The new bridge, spanning 700 metres in length, is being built by the Lumbini-Rautaha Bandana Bhagawati JV, with a completion deadline of 53 months. Field engineer Rajesh Patel from the Postal Highway Project shared that 30 per cent of the work has been completed in a year after the work began. 

Currently, the old bridge can only accommodate one vehicle at a time, which necessitated allocating a budget for the new structure. The ongoing construction is progressing rapidly, with plans to finish it six months before the deadline, according to Patel.

The construction contract was signed in January 2023, and it is expected to complete by June 2027. The 700-metre bridge will be 11 metres wide with 1.75-metre-wide footpaths on either side. The project is being built for  Rs. 1.19 billion (including VAT). 

Workers are now preparing to install slabs after completing the pillars in the areas without water. Patel expressed confidence that the project could be completed ahead of the deadline if the government provided the necessary budget.

The bridge is expected to significantly ease transportation for vehicles crossing the Rapti River to reach Nepalgunj, especially during the monsoon season. 

Ishtiyak Ahmad Shah, Chairperson of Narainapur Rural Municipality, said that floods would not disrupt vehicular movements once the new bridge comes into operation. 

One local, Nasim Khan, expressed happiness over the project's progress, noting that floods often damaged roads and culverts, making travel difficult even in the dry season. 

Similarly, Durga Prasad Pandey of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality-7 shared optimism that the longer and wider bridge would make the journey more convenient for locals in the area.

The foundation stone for the bridge was laid by the then Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Mohammad Ishtiyak Rai on August 20, 2022. Rai also played a pivotal role in securing the budget for the project, recognising the inadequacies of the existing bridge.