Kamala River Bridge remains unfinished for 14 years

Siraha, Aug 11: The concrete bridge over the Kamala River connecting Siraha and Dhanusha districts remains incomplete for the past 14 years. 

Construction of the 469-meter-long bridge started in 2068 BS with a target of completing in three years but has not been completed yet. 

In the absence of the bridge, locals have to travel dangerously via temporarily constructed bamboo or wooden bridges. Furthermore, the temporary bamboo bridge was washed away by the flood earlier this week. Although the wooden structure has been rebuilt the risk continues to remains.

"We have been suffering for years due to the lack of a bridge. The wooden structure currently being built is risky but we are forced to used it. In addition, arbitrary fees are being collected from those using the temporary bridge", said Prabin Yadav of Siraha-6. 

The contract of constructing the bridge was first given to Pappu-Lumbini JV. But after Pappu Construction was blacklisted, Lumbini Builders has been doing the remaining work. However, after two piers were washed away by floods, the company has stopped the work for the last one month, citing the fact that it has not received insurance money of Rs 80 million for the necessary repairs.

Engineer Ranjit Kumar Raya, Information Officer at the Postal Highway Directorate Planning Office, Janakpur, says since the construction company stopped the work a process has been taken forward to terminate the contract and blacklist Lumbini Builders as well. (RSS)