DHARAN: The construction of three motorable bridges—over Bagh Khola, Baguwa Khola, and Thakuri Khola—on the Dharan–Chatara road section of the Madan Bhandari Highway has reached its final stage.
However, construction of the railway bridge on the same road section has yet to begin. According to Umesh Shrestha, an engineer at Surya & Sons Construction Company, which is undertaking the project, around 95 percent of the work on the three bridges has been completed.
He said that the 60-meter-long Bagh Khola bridge, which includes side rails on both sides and is located in Barahakhsetra Municipality-1 of Sunsari, is about 90 percent complete.
Similarly, construction of the 30-meter-long, 11-meter-wide Baguwa Khola bridge, and the 35-meter-long Thakuri Khola bridge, has also reached 90 percent completion.
“The railway bridge lies within a forest area, and work has not started due to pending forest clearance. Once the clearance is granted by the relevant office, construction will begin immediately,” Engineer Shrestha added.
While three bridges are now operational, finishing works—such as sideworks and tree management—are still ongoing.
Shrestha further noted that some remaining tasks include clearing and managing trees near the roadside, which had previously hindered progress.
“During the rainy season, crossing the rivers was extremely dangerous and even fatal. Now, with the bridges built, travel has become much safer and more convenient,” he said.
The Dharan–Chatara road section is a vital route for residents of Bhojpur, Khotang, Udayapur, and other districts to access health services, education, and markets in Dharan. Locals believe that the bridges offer a long-term solution to the hardships they faced, particularly during the monsoon.
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