More than 250 development projects underway in Chitwan

By Saligram Nepal, Chitwan, Jan. 3: A total of 266 development projects are being carried out in Chitwan district this year under the Bagmati Province government’s Infrastructure Development Office.

Most of the projects fall in the budget range of Rs. 1 million to Rs. 5 million, according to Birendra Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Engineer at the Infrastructure Development Office, Bharatpur. 

The projects cover all seven local levels of the district, with budget allocations mainly focused on roads and bridges. Chaudhary said the schemes are largely related to access roads and bridges in both rural and semi-urban areas.

The office said that projects left incomplete from the previous fiscal year due to budget constraints will be completed this year, following fresh budget allocations. Construction of the bridge over the Rigdi Khola on the Shaktikhor-Fislings road section, which had been halted due to a lack of funds, has resumed after Rs. 17 million was allocated.

“After the election announcement, there was a risk of budget cuts, but following strong efforts, the full budget was secured,” Chaudhary said. He added that the construction company is currently working, and the bridge is expected to be completed within the current fiscal year.

Once completed, the road will remain operational even during the monsoon, allowing travel from eastern Chitwan to Fisling on the Narayanghat-Muglin section of the Narayanghat-Muglin (Prithvi) Highway via Shaktikhor.

In addition, construction has begun on a bridge at Gardas of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality-7, which connects Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Until now, people travelling from Simladhap to Bharatpur had to cross a stream through forest land. After the bridge is completed, locals from the northern part of Bharatpur and the southern part of Ichchhakamana will be able to travel even during the rainy season.

The bridge project has been contracted for Rs. 36.4 million, Chaudhary said. The bridge will be 70 metres long and 8.4 metres wide, allowing two-way vehicle movement. He added that the bridge is expected to contribute to the area’s tourism potential development.

Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality Chairperson Dan Bahadur Gurung said the nearby Simladhap area has a cool climate and already hosts hotels and resorts. Due to its elevation, the area offers clear views of Bharatpur and eastern Chitwan, attracting a large number of domestic tourists. 

“The lack of a bridge was a major obstacle to development. Once the bridge is built, people will be able to travel via Simladhap to the under-construction Shaktikhor Industrial Area and to Upardang Gadhi, Chitwan’s former district headquarters,” he said. According to the office, projects under implementation this fiscal year include 245 road projects and 22 bridges and culverts. 

There are 76 small projects costing up to Rs. 1 million, 146 projects in Rs. 1 million to Rs. 5 million range, 14 projects costing between Rs. 5 million and Rs. 10 million, and 30 projects with budgets exceeding Rs. 10 million. A total of Rs. 640 million has been allocated for roads and Rs. 170 million specifically for bridges.

Contracts for most projects have already been awarded and work is underway, while some are in the process of being tendered, Chaudhary said. The office said that development projects could not be contracted on time due to disruptions caused  by the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9.