Nepal’s longest suspension bridge inaugurated

KATHMANDU, Sept 27: The record of the longest suspension bridge in the country held by a bridge built over the Kamala River connecting Siraha and Dhanusha that was inaugurated in February this year, has been shattered in mere eight months. 

The new longest suspension bridge of Nepal, spanning over one and a half kilometers across the Narayani River at Nawalparasi (West) Susta was brought into operation on Thursday after the inauguration by President Ram Chandra Paudel.

The bridge built in West Nawalparasi Susta Rural Municipality-5 will connect Susta and Sakkhar Binahi villages. This will increase the ease of mobility for around 350 families living in these two villages to travel. Earlier, residents on the other side of the Narayani River were compelled to traverse through India to travel within their own country. 

The Director General of the Department of Local Infrastructure under the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Mahesh Chandra Neupane, informed Republica that the longest suspension bridge spanning 1,571 meters in Nepal has been constructed in Susta. “The private contractor Trishuli Ashraya JV started the construction work for the bridge in 2016,” he told Republica, “In nine years about Rs 250 million have been spent on its construction.”

He added that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh also participated in the bridge inauguration program. 

According to historians, when the Sugauli Treaty was signed between Nepal and the East India Company, the area on the other side of the bridge was also on Nepal’s side of the Narayani River. However, the river changed its course in 1902 resulting in a Nepali territory across the river. The area currently houses offices for Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, as well as schools.

According to the ministry, the 1500.44 metres long suspension bridge built on the Kamala River, connecting Malhaniya of Siraha Municipality, Siraha, and Kathal of Janaknandini Rural Municipality, Dhanusha, which is currently operational before the opening of the bridge in Susta, was recognized as the longest suspension bridge in the country. The bridge was inaugurated on February, 24, prior to which, the Dodhara-Chandani suspension bridge, spanning 1,452 meters, built on the Mahakali River was recognized as the longest bridge in the country.

According to the Department of Local Infrastructure, over 10,410 suspension bridges have been built across the country with the help of the federal government, state government, local government and donor agencies. Only 740 suspension bridges were built in the last fiscal year while the target was set to build 600 bridges in the current fiscal year.

In 2018, the then government launched a program to replace public cable-crossings with suspension bridges. According to the department, out of 143 cable-crossings identified through the program, 141 have been successfully replaced with suspension bridges.