Construction of several bridges in Madhes stalled

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 14: Residents of Rautahat and Sarlahi districts in Madhes Province have been suffering due to the delayed construction of bridges in various locations.

Despite contracts being awarded, several bridge construction projects have remained stalled for years due to prolonged delays in completing the work. 

Two bridges over the Bagmati River connecting Rautahat and Sarlahi districts have not been completed within the stipulated timeframe, forcing travelers to travel under risky and difficult conditions for years.

General life has been severely affected. These bridges are expected to connect not only Sarlahi and Rautahat but also Parsa and Bara districts with Janakpur, the capital of Madhes Province.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Urban Development, Kul Man Ghising, inspected the bridges on Friday evening and reviewed the progress of the construction works. 

According to his secretariat, Minister Ghising also held discussions with locals regarding the difficulties they face due to the absence of bridges.

Expressing concern over the daily hardships faced by the general public, Minister Ghising said he was saddened by the situation and pledged to continue monitoring the construction progress whether he remains in the ministerial post or not. 

Locals urged him to ensure the immediate completion of the stalled projects.

The 700-metre-long bridge across the Bagmati River at Ganga Pipra, connecting Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality of Rautahat and Ramnagar Rural Municipality of Sarlahi, has remained stalled. 

A contract was signed with the Tundi–Rasuwa–Pappu Joint Venture (JV) in June 2016 for its construction at a cost of Rs. 863.7 million, including taxes.

According to the latest extended contract agreement, the bridge is scheduled to be completed by October 2026.

Currently, the physical progress of the project stands at 80 per cent.

Similarly, a contract was initially signed in May 2010 for the construction of the 634-metre-long Bagmati (Badarwa) Bridge along the Postal Highway, connecting Sarlahi and Rautahat, with a completion deadline of three years. Even after one and a half decades, the bridge remains incomplete.

After the contractor failed to complete the work, the original contract was terminated, and a new contract was awarded in April 2022 at a cost of Rs. 651.6 million. 

Although the project was scheduled for completion within two and a half years, current progress is only 20 per cent. 

Despite the deadline being extended until April 2027, the contractor has yet to mobilise at the construction site. Likewise, the construction of the Gaindatar Chandi Bridge, located north of Chapur in Rautahat, has been stalled for the past one decade. 

The bridge, which is expected to connect Bakaiya Rural Municipality of Makawanpur with the Dharan–Chatara–Hetauda road section, remains incomplete despite three deadline extensions.

Locals have organised various protest programmes, including hunger strikes, demanding the immediate completion of the bridge. 

The contract for the construction of the Gaindatar Chandi Bridge was awarded to the Pappu–Shivashankar Joint Venture.