Bridge connecting provincial capital not built even in eight years

Kavrepalanchwok, March 6: A bridge connecting Bagmati Province's capital Hetauda with Kavrepalanchowk district has not been completed even in eight years due to delay on the part of the contractor company.     

The contract was awarded to Mahadev-Sikhar-Tamakoshi-JV to build the bridge over the Bagmati River at Sikredobhan of Bagmati rural municipality-5 in Makawanpur and Khanikhola rural municipality-5 in Kavrepalanchwok.     

Although a contract agreement was signed in fiscal year 2073/74 BS to complete the construction of the bridge within two years, much to the dismay of local residents, the bridge has not been built yet.     

The contract agreement for the construction of the bridge was signed for over Rs 110 million excluding tax.     

The local residents of Khanikhola and Mahabharat rural municipality have been facing difficulties in commuting in the absence of the bridge, said Khanchalal Jimba, Chairperson of Mahabharat rural municipality.     

The construction company, however, claimed that the bridge construction has achieved 30 per cent physical progress so far. That includes erecting pillars, piling of the pillars in the middle of the river and pilling of pillars towards the Kavrepalanchowk district.     

Khadga Nepal the construction company, admitted delay in constructing the bridge as they had to first build a road to transport construction materials.     

He further explained that the contract was awarded to build a bridge in the place where there was no road. Thus, there was some delay while they first built the road.     

Local resident Ram Prasad Timilsina mentioned, "It takes two hours on average to reach the provincial capital Hetauda from Taldhunga in Khanikhola if the bridge was built. It would facilitate the locals for the commute."     

A joint team of Mahabharat rural municipality, Khanikhola rural municipality and Bagmati rural municipality last Wednesday presented an attention letter to Bagmati Province's Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama (Tamang) to expedite the bridge construction process.     

CM Lama pledged to prioritize bridge construction and instructed the concerned minister to accelerate the construction process. (RSS)