Chinese Companies Likely to Win Contract for Signature Bridge Over Tinau River

Butwal. The contract for the state-of-the-art 'Signature Bridge' to be constructed over the Tinau River in Rupandehi, which falls on the East-West Highway Butwal-Gorusinghe road section, is likely to be awarded to a Chinese construction company. The Department of Roads under the Nepal Government, Foreign Aid Management Division, had invited international tenders in the last week of Mangsir, in which 6 Chinese companies and joint ventures (JV) participated. As all participating companies are Chinese, the construction responsibility is expected to go to the Chinese side.

Participating companies include China First Highway Engineering Company Limited, Polychangda Engineering Company Limited, Anhui Xinjian Holding Group Company Limited, and GCGCRRCC JV. Nepali company Sharma-ANK, in JV with Chinese ZIEC, has also submitted a bid. Similarly, Nepali company Kalika, in JV with CRGEC, has also submitted a bid, Senior Engineer Suresh Poudel of the Foreign Aid Management Division of the Department of Roads told Ratopati. According to him, the technical evaluation of the participating companies is in the final stage.

He said, 'Within a few days, the technical evaluation report will be sent to the World Bank, after which the financial proposals will be opened and the final decision-making process will proceed.'

According to him, the entire process is estimated to take about three months. After the construction company is selected, the contract will be signed and the implementation responsibility will be handed over to the Butwal-Gorusinghe Road Project Office.

The Nepal government has moved forward with the plan to construct 'Signature Bridges' over the Narayani and Tinau rivers along the East-West Highway. Construction work has already begun on the Narayani River. There, Tundi Construction Pvt. Ltd. has already signed a contract for more than Rs 1.68 billion, with a completion period of four years.

The Department of Roads had invited tenders for the bridge to be constructed over the Tinau River with an estimated cost of around Rs 2 billion. The plan is to construct new bridges of 2-2 lanes on the north and south sides of the existing bridge, keeping the current bridge as it is.

The proposed 'Signature Bridge', which will be about 266 meters long, is said to be constructed with a modern, attractive, and artistic design.

The expansion work of the Butwal-Gorusinghe road is currently underway. The deterioration of the old Tinau bridge and the excessive traffic congestion in the Butwal area have increased the need for a new bridge. Dadhiram Kharel, Chairman of the Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs Association, said that with the increasing traffic congestion in Butwal, the construction of a modern bridge along with road expansion has become imperative. He mentioned that the 'Signature Bridge' could become an additional attraction for Butwal.

According to Ashok Poudel, Information Officer of the Butwal-Gorusinghe Road Project, the physical progress of the project has reached 23 percent and the financial progress has reached 22 percent so far.

'Signature Bridge' to Attract Tourism

The plan to develop the 'Signature Bridge' to be constructed over the Tinau in Rupandehi along the East-West Highway not only as a road infrastructure but also as a center of tourist attraction has been put forward.

The old bridge at Tinau will be kept as it is, and two new bridges of 2-2 lanes will be constructed on its north and south sides. The estimated cost for the construction of the modern bridge, which will be about 266 meters long, is around Rs 2 billion.

According to Engineer Suresh Poudel involved in the project, the bridge will be elevated above the road surface and constructed in an artistic style reflecting the beauty of the Butwal and Tinau areas.

According to him, the 'Signature Bridge' will be a different, attractive, and modern structure compared to traditional bridges. With the tourism potential connected to the historic Jitgadhi fort in the Tinau area, the Fulbari in the upper part, and the Nuwakot area, the new bridge is expected to help attract more tourists to Butwal. Arjun Thapa, Vice-President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association Rupandehi, said that tourists coming to see the bridge itself can be taken to the surrounding tourist destinations.

According to Project Director Poudel, the construction contractor will be given 7 months to prepare the design of the bridge. He informed Ratopati that the contract process will be finalized within about 3 months, after which the contract will be signed with 7 months for design and 3 years for construction.

The Tinau bridge currently in use was constructed in 2038 BS. Due to it becoming old and narrow, a joint team of Nepali and foreign engineers has prepared the design for the modern 'Signature Bridge'.