Two Bailey bridges ready in Ilam, but roads poor

By Kokila Dhakal,Ilam, July 10: The construction companies responsible for constructing two Bailey bridges in Ilam have demonstrated how such construction work should be carried out.

Under the Mechi Highway, two bailey bridges, one over the Puwakhola along the alternative Kechana–Kanchenjunga (Fast Track) route of the Rajduwali–Bhanjyang road section, and another over the Jogmai Khola of the Simal Golai–Tilkeni road, have been completed within approximately three months. 

Both roads are developed as alternative routes to the fragile Rajduwali-Bhanjyang section of the Mechi Highway. 

Raut–Chaudhary Construction Company of Udayapur constructed the Jogmai Khola’s bailey bridge at a cost of Rs.19.1 million. 

According to the Road Division Office Ilam, vehicles weighing up to 10 tonnes can use this bridge. 

Likewise, under the Fast Track project, Sagar Subharambha Elisa JV completed the bailey bridge over the Puwakhola at a cost of Rs.13.5 million. This bridge is said to accommodate vehicles weighing under 25 tonnes.

After a landslide in October last year pull down a section of road of the Mechi Highway across the Maikhola near Rajduwali bridge in Ilam Municiplaity-9, necessary maintenance and blacktopping of the Fast Track and Simal Golai–Tilkeni roads began to ensure permanent transportation access. 

The bailey bridges over the major rivers-- Puwakhola and Jogmai were constructed as part of this work.

Although bridges have been built on both roads, the road construction itself remains extremely sluggish.  

The Belase–Rakase–Bhanjyang section under the Fast Track has not been completed even after four years. 

The road contract, signed on July 13, 2021, had a completion deadline of January 14, 2024.

As the work was not finished on time, the deadline was extended till July 2, 2025, for the contractor company Khadka Krishna Saksham JV, Kathmandu. 

However, even after the extended period, only 42 per cent of the work has been completed, according to the Road Division Office Ilam. 

The total budget for this road section is Rs. 272.153 million, with only 39.18 per cent financial progress achieved.

“At the very least, we asked for graveling on this road section, but the contractor insists on doing blacktopping instead. Out of the nine km stretch, only five km has been gravelled. The rest of the sub-base and blacktop work is pending,” said Engineer Arjun Ghimire of the Division Office. 

“The bridge is built, but the road is in terrible condition. Even if blacktopping is not done right away, we are urging for cutting up to Ghorle Bhir past Puwakhola and graveling up to Belase. But no progress has been made,” he added.

“The box culvert being constructed at Thade Khola is near completion, but without a reliable road, we fear that transport operation this year too will be difficult,” Ghimire further added. 

“Delays in road construction are also due to the repeated extension of deadlines from higher authorities despite contractors missing the set deadlines.”

Similarly, the deadline for the Simal Golai–Tilkeni road has also expired.  

The contract for this road was signed on May 2, 2025, and was supposed to be completed by July 4, 2025. 

Purwanchal Nepal Sing JV, the contractor, has completed only 50 per cent of the work so far. Out of the total budget of Rs. 34.614 million, the financial progress stands at just 19.55 per cent, as reported by the Division Office. 

The scope of work on this road includes seven km of graveling, one km of soling, installation of hum pipes at five locations, and widening of narrow curves. 

“Work is ongoing on this road as well, but the deadline has passed, and even the budget arrived late from higher authorities,” said Ghimire. “We are continuously following up to ensure timely completion.”

If construction on both roads is not completed soon, this year’s monsoon rains are certain to impact the hilly districts of Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung. 

Last year, after the road above Rajduwali on the Mechi Highway was blocked, only temporary transportation routes have been in use. 

“It has not rained much yet. But once it starts raining continuously, the road in the Rajduwali area starts to wash away, and transportation becomes impossible unless alternative routes are ready,” said Grishma Subba, Chairperson of the Eastern Jeep and Taxi Entrepreneurs Association, Ilam. 

“If the Rajduwali gets blocked and both the Fast Track and Simal Golai roads remained non-operational, not just Ilam but Panchthar and Taplejung will be directly affected. Stakeholders must either pressure or convince the contractors to speed up the work. Otherwise, the government should stop repeatedly extending deadlines for non-performing contractors.”

Currently, over 300 freight and passenger vehicles travel daily from Jhapa to Taplejung via the Mechi Highway.