Locals Forced to Risk Dangerous Crossings as Key Sarlahi-Rautahat Bridge Project Stalls

Sarlahi. Local residents are being forced to undertake perilous journeys as the construction of the Ganga-Pipra Bagmati River Bridge, which connects Sarlahi and Rautahat districts, remains stalled for a long time. Locals complain that this bridge construction, which becomes a major agenda during elections, slows down after the elections are over.

Candidates from Sarlahi Constituency No. 4 and Rautahat Constituency No. 1 had made the Ganga-Pipra bridge construction a common electoral agenda during the House of Representatives elections. Locals say that although commitments were made during the election campaign to complete the bridge construction quickly, the work has not gained momentum after the elections.

According to Jitesh Yadav, a local from Ramnagar Rural Municipality-2, the elected Member of Parliament from Sarlahi-4, Amresh Kumar Singh, assured during his election campaign that the bridge construction would move forward rapidly.

Similarly, Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa had also committed to taking initiative for the bridge construction whether he won or lost the election. Candidates from Rautahat Constituency No. 1 had also prioritized the bridge construction.

The contract for the construction of the Ganga-Pipra Bagmati River Bridge was signed on Jestha 28, 2073 BS with Tundi-Rasuwa-Pappu JV Company for approximately NPR 86 crore 37 lakh 9 thousand. Due to the failure to complete the work within the stipulated time, the deadline has been extended multiple times. It is stated that the target for completion according to the latest extended deadline is Kartik 13, 2083 BS.

Questions have been raised about the quality of materials used in the under-construction bridge. Locals allege that construction work has slowed down citing soil testing and design review as reasons after one span and one foundation of the bridge were damaged due to floods in Ashoj 2081 BS.

Although about 80 percent of the work is said to be complete, over a thousand citizens have to cross the river daily in a risky manner because the bridge remains abandoned. Locals state that the state has not made the expected efforts to intensify the repair and construction of the bridge damaged by the flood.

Local residents stated that the completion of the bridge is extremely important as it will establish a direct road link to the provincial capital for districts in Madhesh, including Sarlahi, Rautahat, Parsa, and Bara. Their demand is that the concerned bodies should pay attention to completing the bridge construction quickly.