Construction of bridge at Sidhaniyaghat accelerated ahead of end of June deadline

By Gobinda Sharma, Banke, Jan 10: Work is underway at a rapid pace on the under-construction concrete bridge at Sidhaniyaghat on the Rapti River, connecting Duduwa Rural Municipality of Banke and Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality along the Postal Highway, with the goal of completing it within the current fiscal year 2082/83.

According to Lila Bahadur Bhandari, Chief Divisional Engineer at the Postal Highway Directorate Project Office in Nepalgunj, the construction of the bridge's pillars and spans is progressing rapidly.

Due to the narrow bridge, vehicles are currently forced to wait in line to cross the bridge, so the construction of an 11-meter-wide concrete bridge has begun at Sidhaniyaghat.

Planning Chief Bhandari said, "Work is being done relentlessly with the goal of completing the entire construction work of the bridge by June. Regular monitoring and other work is being done by the office."

Nine out of the 11 pillars on the bridge have been constructed. Similarly, construction work on six out of the 10 spans has been completed.

Work on the 7th and 8th spans is in preparation.

Construction of a wider bridge has begun after the bridge at Sidhaniyaghat, which was completed about a decade and a half ago, became too narrow.

An agreement was signed with Lumbini Rauthah Bandhan Bhagwati JV Kathmandu on Janaury24,2023 for the construction of the bridge, with the work to be completed in 53 months. The cost of the bridge is Rs 1.19 billion including VAT.

According to Chief Planner Bhandari, a 700-meter bridge, 1,480-meter approach road, and four kilometers of river control work will now be completed simultaneously at Sidhaniyaghat.

Similarly, work will be done on a 300-meter ramp.

Construction of a new bridge has begun near the current 350-meter long bridge.