Damauli : Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, has warned that the contract for the Ghumaune Bridge connecting Aabukhaireni rural municipality–5 in Tanahu and Bharatpur metropolitan city–29 in Chitwan will be terminated if construction does not resume within one month.
During an inspection of the project site today, Minister Ghising directed the contractor to restart construction within a month. He said the long-stalled bridge has become a matter of national concern and stressed that there would be no alternative but to cancel the contract if work does not resume promptly. “The Ghumaune Bridge must be completed at any cost. Even the President has shown concern over this project. Do the work; otherwise, say no,” he told the contractor.
Construction of the bridge began 11 years ago, but progress so far is limited to the completion of pillars on both sides. The contract was initially awarded to Mrit Sanjiwoni Nirman Sewa Private Limited, Hetauda in 2070 BS and re-awarded in 2075 BS. According to the Road Division Office, overall physical progress stands at around 50 percent. As per the contract, the bridge will be 105 meters long and 11 meters wide, including footpaths, with a total project cost of Rs 95.6 million upon the agreed time.
Once completed, the motorable bridge at Ghumaune on the Buddhasingh Marg, the shortest route connecting Gandaki Province with Narayangadh in Chitwan will reduce the travel distance from Pokhara and Damauli to Narayangadh by 23 kilometers compared to the existing Mugling–Narayangadh road.
