Khotang, Sept 10: People’s representatives at local levels in the district have demanded construction of a bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River, thereby linking Khotang and Udaypur districts.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport was demanded a bailey bridge at Bangsilaghat of Udayapur district so that Baraha Pokhari rural municipality-5 of Khotang district and Chaudandi Gadhi municipality-1 of Udayapur would be connected.
The representatives shared that the Ministry was positive to their demand.
The people’s representatives from the respective local levels of the two districts held a discussion to this regard. The meeting had decided to request the federal ministry for its cooperation to build the essential infrastructure.
Earlier, the people’s representatives had taken initiatives to establish similar bailey bridge at Phoksingtar so that transportation to the eastern towns of Khotag was made easier.
The discussion had the participation of people’s representatives, active locals and leaders of political parties.
Currently, there is a suspension bridge at Bangsilaghat which was built six years back. The bridge stretching 235 meter was built at the cost of Rs 143 million.
Though the construction of a motorable bridge over the Sunkoshi River was initiated at the cost of Rs 191.8 million at Bangsilaghat, it has not completed so far. It witnessed only 25 percent progress, while its contract was 33 months since November 17, 2022.
Then foreign minister Dr Narayan Khadka had laid a foundation stone to the bridge on December 16, 2022.
Chairman of Barahapokharai rural municipality, Shalikram Banjara, informed that the contractor had badly delayed the construction, putting the people at the receiving end.
However, the bridge section of Road Department, Dharan admitted delay in bridge construction, reasoning that its location had to be shifted down the proposed spot.
The person contracted for the undertaking had gone missing for long.
