Contractor disappears after receiving payment of more than 8 million, project deserted

By Nisha Rai, Dharan, Mar.27: The under-construction bridge over the Leduwa River, located at the head of Devi Village in Dharan Sub-metropolitan City-5, has been stranded for four years.

An agreement was signed with World Trade Construction Company on July 28, 2020, for Rs 121,86,813 to complete the bridge construction within a year under the budget of the Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development of Koshi Province.

 However, the construction company disappeared after receiving payment of Rs 8,950,173.

Even after four years, the locals are crossing the river on foot as there is no sign of either contractor or construction work. Meanwhile, the regulatory body has been siding with the contractor. 

Following the protests by locals, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Bhupendra Rai, had monitored the condition of the bridge. 

Minister Rai assured the locals that he will instruct them to complete the work immediately or that the contract will be terminated if they failed to do so.

The 16-meter bridge being built on the Leduwa River in Dharan-5 will not only connect the residents of Ward-5 but also the residents of Ward-4. 

Ward Chari of 5 Santosh Limbu said that locals suffer most in dire situations such as commute to work, school and to hospital because of lack bridge. 

Limbu said that the hope of locals has been crushed, forcing them to cross the river in winter, taking risks. 

The deadline for the construction of the bridge has been extended twice, but contractor Pashupati Baral of World Trade Construction Company has stated that it will begin construction soon.