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🇳🇵 Nepal /Energy & Infrastructure

Suspension bridges lie unused in Dhankuta, travellers stop only for photos

From Kathmandu Post · (6m ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Dozens of suspension bridges in Nepal's Dhankuta district have fallen into disuse following the expansion of road networks.
  • These bridges, once vital for connecting communities and facilitating daily life, are now neglected as motorable roads replace traditional foot trails.
  • Significant public investment in these structures has been rendered redundant, with calls for relocation to areas where they are still needed going unaddressed.

The expansion of road networks in Dhankuta has rendered many of the district's once-essential suspension bridges obsolete. These structures, built with considerable public funds to serve as lifelines for mountain communities, are now falling into disrepair and disuse.

Many bridges built to meet the needs of that time have now lost their relevance.

— Sitaram GautamA former officer at the then district development committee in Dhankuta, reflecting on the obsolescence of the bridges.

For years, these bridges were crucial for schoolchildren, families transporting the sick to health posts, and locals accessing markets. They shortened journeys and made daily life possible. However, with the completion of blacktopped roads connecting various settlements, foot traffic has dwindled, leaving these bridges abandoned.

There are provisions to relocate them to areas where they are still needed, but no action has been taken.

— Sitaram GautamHighlighting the lack of action to repurpose the unused bridges.

The situation highlights a broader issue of infrastructure development and changing transportation needs. While the roads offer greater accessibility, they have inadvertently led to the neglect of valuable public assets. The former officer from the district development committee noted that over 60 bridges were built, and at least 15 are now completely out of use. Organizations involved in social mobilization for bridge construction estimate each bridge represents an investment of Rs3 million to Rs10 million.

While a few are still in limited use, most have lost their significance.

— Min Prasad SubediOf Poverty Alleviation and Rural Development Programme (Pardep) Nepal, Dhankuta, commenting on the current state of the bridges.

There are provisions to relocate these bridges to areas where they are still needed, but no action has been taken. This represents a significant loss of investment and a failure to adapt existing infrastructure to current needs. The story of these unused bridges is a stark reminder of how development priorities can leave behind valuable, yet redundant, infrastructure.

As roads and new tracks replaced old walking paths, many of these bridges no longer lay on active routes.

— Min Prasad SubediExplaining the reason behind the bridges becoming redundant.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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