GORKHA, August 2: The construction of a motorable bridge connecting Dharche Rural Municipality and Chumnubri Rural Municipality in Gorkha has been completed after a decade. The 25-meter long bridge was constructed at the cost of Rs 2.4 million.
“Although it took longer than expected, the construction work on the bridge is over and vehicles can now pass through the bridge,” said Rajesh Yadav, Chief of the 11-km Chhevetar-Bhaluswara section of the Road Project. “The bridge will help to ease the daily life of the local residents.”
The construction company, Rayamajhi Insan JV had received the tender to construct the bridge in 2011 and the project should have been completed by 2013. However, only the foundation of the bridge was constructed on both sides of the Seti River by the given time. In addition, the construction company stopped the construction work after the foundations laid before were buried by the flood in the Seti River.
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The office had prepared a fine amount to be paid by the construction company for not completing the work within the designated time period. According to the office, the company had resumed the construction after the government extended the deadline by one year to complete the long-abandoned project.
Yadav said majority of the construction work was done in 2020/21. The company resumed the construction due to fear of being blacklisted. The design of the bridge was revised after the foundations laid before were buried by floods, Yadav said.
The locals have been requesting the Department of Road to complete the construction of the bridge as soon as possible. The newly-built bridge has made the local residents happy. “The locals of Dharche will have fewer problems from now,” Vice Chairman of Dharche Rural Municipality Phulmaya Gurung said. “People had problems coming to the municipality office as they would have to stop at the Seti River before the construction of the bridge was completed,” Gurung said.
The bridge is expected to ease access of public vehicles to MachhaKhola and facilitate trekkers to reach Manaslu region by hiking, Chief Administrative officer of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, Bhimsen Shrestha said. “The bridge has cut short the distance for locals. This has also made it easier for mules carrying goods to pass through,” he said.
Furthermore, the road way of Dharche Rural Municipality in North Gorkha was opened but has not been connected with the Chumnubri road network. The locals are forced to transport daily necessities and construction materials with the help of mules and helicopters. The bridge over the Seti River will make travelling much easier for Mules to reach MachhaKhola.
Nepal Army is currently digging the road tract connecting Tibet. The army had already opened a 35km track for the new roadway but faced problems in transporting construction materials, fuel and food when the bridge was not built.
