Contractor's negligence stalls Bheri River Bridge for 13 years

By Raju Lamichhane

Rukum West, Apr.7: A bridge over the Bheri River along the Madhyapahadi (Mid-Hill) Highway has remained incomplete for 13 years, highlighting how negligence by responsible authorities can stall public service and development projects.

The bridge, which is meant to connect Rukum West and Jajarkot, was originally scheduled for completion in 2015. The Mid-Hill Highway Project Office had signed a contract with YP Construction Pvt. Ltd. in 2012, with a three-year completion target. However, the project remains unfinished even after 13 years.

As a result, a key section of the Mid-Hill Highway -- considered a national pride project -- has yet to link Rukum West and Jajarkot. The bridge, being constructed over the Bheri River to connect Adhere of Chaurjahari Municipality-2 with Kudu of Bheri Municipality-13 in Jajarkot, currently has only its foundation pillars erected on both sides.

According to Niranjan Thapa, chief of the Mid-Hill Highway Project Office in Dailekh, preparations are under way to call a new tender for the bridge construction. He said that a revised design, including some additions, has been sent to the Department of Roads for approval, and a tender is likely to be announced within this fiscal year.

Due to changes in the river’s course, a new design incorporating necessary embankments has been prepared. Thapa added that after the first contract was cancelled, two separate tenders were called but failed to attract contractors. In one case, the proposed cost was too high, while in another, no bids were submitted.

The delay in bridge construction has also affected the upgrading and blacktopping works of the highway. Moreover, vehicles have yet to operate between Rukum West and Jajarkot along this section of the Mid-Hill Highway.

The contract with YP Construction Pvt. Ltd. was terminated on December 15, 2022, 10 years after it was signed, due to the contractor’s failure to carry out the work. Following the termination, a security deposit of Rs. 7.2 million and an advance payment of Rs. 26 million were confiscated.

In addition, as per the Public Procurement Regulations 2007, the contractor was fined Rs. 85.79 million. The contract, estimated at Rs. 180 million, remained incomplete after the death of the contractor’s proprietor, Raju Shrestha, which reportedly contributed to the delay.