Construction of bridge over Seti River stalled

By Amar Raj Naharki, Tanahun, Dec 22: The construction of the concrete bridge over the Seti River connecting Byas Municipality and Rishing Rural Municipality in Tanahun district, which began five years ago, is still in limbo.

Locals have been facing hassle in commuting as this bridge, considered an important infrastructure of Gandaki Province, fails to reach completion on time, while both the cost and time of the project have stretched further.

The construction of this bridge, which began on December 4, 2020, under an agreement with Rasuwa Elite JV Kathmandu, has only reached 65 per cent physical progress so far.

This 155-meter-long bridge, which is being constructed by the Gandaki Provincial government at Rs. Three hundred twenty four million twenty seven thousand, one hundred and ninety four, is of the 'steel truss' nature.

Although the foundation stone was laid on April 5, 2021, to complete the construction within three years, the deadline has been extended three times so far due to the contractor's delay and various excuses.

This bridge connects Deurali Nagar of Byas Municipality-3 and Rishing Rural Municipality-1, Jhaputar.

Senior Division Engineer, Chief of the Infrastructure Development Office, Tanahun, Rabindra Pratap Tiwari said that they are continuously urging the construction company to complete the project.

According to Tiwari, steel parts fabrication of the bridge has been completed, and aims to complete the installation of one out of two spans in the current fiscal year.

He said, "The necessary equipment for the remaining work has already come from India. We have strictly directed the construction company to complete the work by March 2026."

The bridge, based on pile foundations, will be 9.5 meters wide. 

Recently, there has been some activity at the construction site after the office put pressure on it to speed up the work.

However, due to the tendency of repeated extension of the deadline and no progress, locals are still skeptical that the bridge will be operational within the new deadline.

There is strong criticism from the public regarding the delay in the construction of the bridge.

The founding chairman of the Gandaki Literary Foundation, Tanahun, and writer Sagar Udas have expressed sadness over the poor condition of the bridge.

He said, "This bridge connecting the Byas Municipality and Rishing Rural Municipality was the foundation of our prosperity, but it is extremely sad that it has remained abandoned for more than five years."

"Such delays in development work create despair among the people towards the state itself."