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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Nepal bridge project a decade late, residents protest neglect

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A bridge construction project in Nepal's Rautahat district remains unfinished nearly a decade after it began, causing significant hardship for local residents.
  • Residents have protested the delays, forming a committee and demanding action against the contractor and officials, but the project has faced multiple deadline extensions.
  • The Road Division Office acknowledges the slow progress, with only 80% completion, and is preparing for another extension despite the current deadline approaching.

A decade-long delay in constructing a vital bridge over the Chandi river in Nepal's Rautahat district has left residents of the remote Gaindatar area cut off and frustrated. The bridge, intended as a lifeline to district headquarters, markets, and essential services, was supposed to be finished within two years.

We do not know how much longer we will have to wait.

— Govinda TimilsinaCoordinator of the local struggle committee, expressing frustration over the continued delays despite protests and appeals.

During monsoon season, the Chandi river floods, severing the area's connection to the rest of the district and forcing residents to risk dangerous crossings. This ongoing isolation has fueled local anger, leading to protests including a relay hunger strike in May 2023. Residents formed a committee demanding the contract's cancellation and accountability for the contractor, engineers, and officials at the Chandranigahapur Road Division Office.

Despite repeated appeals and protests, the bridge remains incomplete. Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Ganesh Paudel visited the site, emphasizing the bridge's importance as a symbol of trust in the state for Gaindatar's residents. He criticized the local administration and road division office for not taking the prolonged delay seriously.

This bridge is not just a physical structure. It represents the lifeline of the people of Gaindatar and their trust in the state. It is unfortunate that the local administration, elected representatives and the road division office have not treated the prolonged delay seriously.

— Ganesh PaudelRastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker, highlighting the significance of the bridge and criticizing the lack of serious attention from authorities.

The project, awarded to Pappu Shivshankar JV for Rs253.6 million, began in July 2017 with a July 2019 completion deadline. The Road Division Office has extended the deadline five times, most recently to mid-July 2026. Officials admit progress is unsatisfactory, with around 80% of the work done. Road Division chief Arun Kumar Lalkarna stated the work is progressing at a "snail's pace" and completion by the deadline is unlikely, even as they prepare for another potential extension.

It does not look likely to be completed by the end of the fiscal year. We have repeatedly instructed the contractor to finish the work within the deadline.

— Arun Kumar LalkarnaRoad Division chief, admitting the slow progress and the unlikelihood of meeting the current deadline.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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