Bailey bridge at Loti Karnali expected to boost development

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Aug,1: Former Chief Minister of Karnali Province, Jivan Bahadur Shahi, expressed confidence that the construction of a Bailey bridge over the Loti Karnali in Chankheli Rural Municipality will contribute not only to the development of Humla district but also to the overall progress of Karnali Province.

During the Bailey bridge inauguration programme the other day, Shahi emphasised that roads are vital for all kinds of development. He personally drove a vehicle over the newly built Bailey bridge to inaugurate it.

After the inauguration, he stated that the long-standing dream of the Humla people, dating back 30 years, of traveling by vehicle, is finally coming true.

He added that the bridge over the Loti Karnali River will promote tourism by connecting the Mugu-Humla route.

Highlighting the road as an alternative to the Karnali Corridor, Shahi said he would ask the Karnali Provincial Government to upgrade it.

The Bailey bridge over the Loti Karnali River, situated between Ward Nos. 2 and 4 of Chankheli Rural Municipality, connects Mugu and Humla to the road network.

The bridge now enables direct travel through Mugu district to other regions. Previously, while the Rural Access Programme (RAP III) had constructed a road from Mugu’s Gamgadhi to Humla’s Salisalla, the lack of a bridge at Loti Karnali forced travelers to cross the river using cable crossings (tuin).

With the Bailey bridge operational, the need for the hazardous cable crossings has been eliminated. The bridge was completed and put into service within seven months.

Tourists can now travel directly from Humla to Rara Lake. Earlier, travelers had to travel to one side of the Loti Karnali, cross the river via a cable crossing, and then take another vehicle.

An agreement was signed with Kangri Nirman Sewa on December 8, 2024, for the construction of the bridge, and the project was completed in time.

Chief Engineer Jaisi stated that the Bailey bridge is 42 metres long, 10 metres high, and 3.15 metres wide.

The construction cost of the bridge was Rs. 49.8 million, and it has eliminated the need for temporary wooden bridges during winter. 

The Bailey bridge benefits not only Chankheli Rural Municipality but also provides an alternative route connecting the entire Humla district to the national road network.

With the bridge coming into operation, road travel is now possible through Mugu and Humla to Surkhet, and via Dolpa to the rest of the country.