JANAKPURDHAM, Nov 22: For years, every visiting minister has assured locals that the collapsed Kamala Bridge will finally be rebuilt. On Friday, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI) Kulman Ghising gave the same promise—but with one difference: unlike past ministers who crossed the river by boat, Ghising waded barefoot through water and sand to experience the hardship locals face daily.
“Even though this government has a short, election-focused mandate, coming here to understand people’s suffering is meaningful,” said Ramrijhan Yadav, coordinator of the Kamala Bridge Construction Struggle Committee.
Ghising, who is also overseeing two other ministries—Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) and Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD)—spent nearly two hours at Kamala, witnessing dangerous river crossings and interacting with affected residents. “The contract was signed 14 years ago, yet the bridge still does not stand,” he said. “This bridge is the lifeline of Madhesh. The entire region’s journey—not just mobility but life itself—remains stuck.”
He pledged full effort to “unblock” the stalled project and said past irregularities are under investigation.
Ghising was accompanied by Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta, senior officials from MoPIT, and Department of Roads (DoR) leadership. The team jointly inspected the site and committed to expediting construction.
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A decade of broken promises
In 2011, locals celebrated after the foundation stone was laid for a 470-meter bridge over the Kamala River along the Postal Highway. But 12 years later, the bridge collapsed before it was even inaugurated—washed away by a moderate flood in July 2021.
The project had reached 83 percent physical and 82 percent financial progress. Yet the collapse shattered the hopes of thousands like Sakina Khatun of Dhanusha, who had dreamt for decades of crossing the river on foot rather than by boat.
The original contractor, Pappu–Lumbini JV, failed to finish the work despite repeated deadline extensions. After Pappu was removed, Lumbini Builders resumed work with a revised design. The company says reconstruction is underway and that the bridge will be operational by January.
Government apathy fuels Madhesh’s anger
“The Kamala Bridge exposes the state’s indifference toward Madhesh,” said Yadav. “More than three years after the collapse, reconstruction is still incomplete. This negligence is increasing frustration among locals.”
The Postal Highway—975 km east–west, extending to 1,792 km with feeder roads—is considered the backbone of Madhesh’s economy. But without the Kamala Bridge, the region remains disconnected, slowing trade, mobility, and development.
The highway was first envisioned during the Rana era and revived repeatedly over decades. Politicians have campaigned on it in every election, using it as a symbol of prosperity. But while their careers advanced, locals say their own lives did not.
Unrealized potential
Despite holding Nepal’s most fertile land, key industries, and major cultural heritage sites, Madhesh continues to lag in human development. Incomplete infrastructure—especially crucial bridges like Kamala—has stalled this potential.
Experts say delays in reconstructing key bridges have not only hurt Madhesh but have pushed the entire country toward greater food dependency.
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