Parties put Jabdi Bridge at centre of poll promises

By Jyoti Panti,Babai (Bardiya), Jan. 28: The Jabdi Bridge, washed away by floods in the Babai River in 2017, has once again become a key election issue for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election, much like in past polls. 

Leaders from the three main political parties have placed the reconstruction of the bridge at the centre of their campaign efforts. In Bardiya Constituency No. 1, candidates from the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Nepal Communist Party are emphasising the Jabdi Bridge as their primary campaign focus while seeking votes.

The bridge, which connects the district headquarters Gulariya with Barbardiya Municipality, has remained unrepaired since 2017. As a result, direct transport links between Gulariya and Barbardiya have been severed for years.

Despite staying in a damaged state through three parliamentary elections, the bridge has been repeatedly highlighted as a campaign promise by political leaders. Locals said that the prolonged delay in reconstruction has caused serious inconvenience and hindered economic activities in the area.

Former lawmaker Sanjay Gautam, who staged an eight-day hunger strike under the bridge demanding its reconstruction, is once again contesting the election as a Nepali Congress candidate. Although the bridge project has been included in the budget several times, construction has yet to commence.

Gautam stated that rebuilding the Jabdi Bridge remains his top priority. He added that during his previous term as a lawmaker, he raised issues related to road and bridge construction, including the Rambhapur–Rajhenwa road.

Similarly, CPN-UML candidate Shalikram Adhikari said the Jabdi Bridge is the backbone of economic development for both Barbardiya and Gulariya municipalities and pledged his commitment to its reconstruction.

Nepal Communist Party candidate Bishnu Chaudhary also said the bridge is a key issue for him, as he is a resident of Barbardiya and regularly travels along the same route.

A total of 21 candidates have filed their nominations in Constituency No. 1. Most of them have listed the Jabdi Bridge as a priority in their election agendas.

Independent candidate Mohan Paudel also said the reconstruction of the bridge is his main issue. In contrast, another independent candidate, Nirmal Adhikari, emphasised that the bridge is crucial for connecting the district headquarters, Gulariya, with the East-West Highway.

The Jabdi Bridge was first damaged by floods in the Babai River in 2014 and was further destroyed in 2017, when two of its approaches were washed away.

Former lawmaker Gautam had earlier staged a hunger strike to force the removal of the damaged approach. In the current election, however, the bridge has become a collective agenda for nearly all candidates.