Vehicles not allowed to use ready bridge in Mugu

By Harikrishna Aidi, Mugu, Aug. 2: The construction of a concrete motorable bridge over the Gamghat Alkhasangu River in Mugu district, connecting the Nakchyalaagna Road of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality and the Nagma Road, completed three months ago. However, vehicles are not allowed to use it.

Frustrated by not being able to use the bridge, locals have started complaining that they are unable to use fully completed bridge.

Jay Bahadur Malla, a local of Chhayanath Rara Municipality-1, said, “Concrete was laid on the bridge in January, but still both two-wheelers and four-wheelers are not allowed to pass through it. As a result, the vehicles have to cross the river, and passengers travelling between Mugum Karmarong and the district headquarters are forced to pay high fares.”

The concerned authorities should make the bridge operational as soon as possible, especially during the rainy season for the convenience of the public, he added.

Landowner Dhan Bahadur Malla, also from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-1, said that the municipality agreed to compensate him for the land twice -- once on November 21, 2023 and again on April 15, 2024. Based on this agreement, Him Sagarmatha Construction Company built the bridge under the responsibility of the Road Division Office in Jumla. A total of 588.75 square metres of Malla’s cultivable land was used for the construction.

Although the bridge is complete, the municipality did not provide compensation as agreed. In protest, Malla has started farming in the eastern end of the bridge. “I have not received the agreed compensation,” he said.

According to Bishnu Kumar Bham, Mayor of Chhayanath Rara Municipality, the municipality has coordinated between the contractor and the landowner and already sent the required documents to the Road Department for compensation. However, the Jumla Road Division Office responded saying that there is no provision to compensate for private land in such cases, as it would set a nationwide precedent.

Bham said, “Now, we are preparing to allocate funds from the Disaster Management Fund to provide some relief in cash and bring the bridge into operation.”

According to Sankh Bahadur Rawat from Thulibheri Municipality-10 in Dolpa, since vehicles cannot use the bridge, devotees heading to Chhayanath Dham during the month of Shrawan are forced to walk 17 kilometres on foot.

Locals and pilgrims travelling to and from Mugum Karmarong via Gamgadhi Bazaar are facing significant difficulties due to the delay in bringing the bridge into operation.