The construction company hopes to complete the bridge within the next three months
BAGLUNG, Nov 30: The construction of the country's longest suspension bridge, which stretches from Bangechaur of Baglung to Aduwabari of Parbat, is in the final stage.
According to Narahari Khadka, a representative of the construction company building the bridge, the concrete work has been completed and now the two ends of the bridge have to be connected through ropes.
The project was given to Thani/BLT/Himshikhar JV for Rs 69 million. Following the construction of the bridge, which started from March 2019, Baglung Municipality-1 and Kushma Municipality-1 will be connected with each other.
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“Connecting ropes at the two sides of the bridge is a challenging task. The bridge is 130-meter high from the river,” Khadka said, adding that the company is building such a for the first time.
The connection of the ropes has been difficult due to electric wires. A section of the Mid-hill Highway is also below the bridge. “There are electric wires and a road under the bridge. It has created difficulty in further construction,” he said.
The foundation stone of the project was laid by Ganesh Timalsina, chairperson of the National Assembly. The bridge over the Kali Gandaki River will be 567 meters long. The construction company had hoped to complete the project within two years when the project was started but now it hopes to complete the project within the next three months.
“If everything goes well, the construction will be completed within the next three months. The construction has been difficult due to electric wires and roads,” Khadka said. The company has sent a letter to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in coordination with Baglung Municipality to "ease the situation."
Usually, locals have to walk for almost two hours to reach Pang from Baglung Bazaar. However, after the construction of the suspension bridge, the time will be shortened to only 15 minutes. The construction of the bridge is expected to contribute to tourism development as well.
The government has already sent a machine purchased from China to Baglung for further construction of the project.
The construction company claims that the bridge will be the longest suspension bridge in Asia. According to Naresh Kandel, general secretary at Baglung Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the bridge will also promote tourism in the region. “We have sent a proposal to the municipality to develop the bridge as a tourist spot,” he said, adding that lights can be installed on the bride to make it attractive for tourists.
He also believes that the bridge can contribute to the overall economic development of the region.
