KATHMANDU, Oct 12: Lalitpur Metropolitan City has begun constructing a cycle-friendly overhead bridge at Dhobighat along the Ring Road. The foundation stone for the project was laid on Sunday by Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan.
According to the metropolis, the construction contract is valued at Rs 50.44 million and the bridge is expected to be completed within a year. Once finished, the bridge will connect the east and west sections of the Damkal Chowk–Sundarighat road, making it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy Ring Road.
Disabled-friendly overhead bridge to be built at Kusunti
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mayor Maharjan said that the Dhobighat section of the Ring Road poses significant risks to pedestrians, prompting the decision to build the bridge. “This area has already witnessed the loss of more than a dozen lives due to road accidents. We are constructing this bridge to prevent further casualties,” he said.
He also shared that three bridges over the Nakkhu River have already been completed, while another disabled-friendly bridge equipped with a lift near the Ring Road’s Yatayat area is in its final phase. Additionally, bridge construction over the Karmanasha River is underway, and work has also begun on a bridge over the Mahadev River in Dhapakhel.
Mayor Maharjan mentioned that even minor construction activities along the Ring Road require approval from the federal government, which delayed the project. “We received the proposal for this bridge a long time ago, but due to lengthy approval procedures, the work started later than planned,” he said, urging the contractor to complete the project within the stipulated time.
Chief of the Infrastructure Division, Engineer Pradeep Paudel, said that the bridge is being built to ensure pedestrian safety in the Dhobighat area. He added that frequent accidents while crossing the Ring Road had led to many deaths, which is why the city prioritized this project.
