OKHALDHUNGA, Dec 21: After six years of signing contract, the contractor has resumed construction of bridge over Molung River at Mandre Dobhan. The bridge would connect Okhaldhunga district headquarters to the western side of Saghutar of Ramechhap district.
The contractor had erected a pillar after signing contract in 2013, and then left the work in limbo. After a lot of public and government pressure, Bhim Bahadur Saud, director of the contractor company Rajendra-Lokpriya JV, who is also the mayor of Parshuram Municipality, has appointed a manager to restart the work.
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The company was initially given two years for construction of the bridge. The contract has already been extended twice. The second extended deadline ended in June this year.
The newly appointed manager Bidur Kadel said that change of design and failure to designate appropriate agencies delayed the construction work. Kadel, who is also an engineer, claimed that the work will now be complete within mid-July next year.
In September, Member of Parliament Yagya Raj Sunuwar, Provincial Assembly Member Mohan Khadka, and Chief District Officer Ganesh Acharya had called the contractor and instructed it to restart construction work. At the meeting, Kadel assured that the bridge construction will be complete within the current fiscal year. He also requested for third extension of the contract.
Absence of a bridge over the river has made life extremely difficult for the locals. Residents of Katunje, Koshahat, Fedigoth, Ghorekhore, Raniban, Singha Devi, and Likhu rural municipalities are affected the most.
The initial estimate for the 80-meter long and 5-meter wide bridge was Rs 30.32 million, which was increased to Rs 50.69 million after the change in design.
