KAVREPALANCHOWK: Construction of a concrete motorable bridge over the Sunkoshi River at Chehere—connecting Kavrepalanchok and Sindhupalchowk—has remained stalled for the past five years.
The bridge project was initiated in Bhadau 2077 BS with the goal of providing road access to several wards and settlements of Saping in Bhumlu Rural Municipality, located east of the Koshi River in Kavrepalanchok. However, the construction company’s failure to complete the project on time has caused ongoing hardship for thousands of local residents.
The Road Department had signed a contract with Amar Construction Pvt. Ltd. in August 2020 to build the bridge and integrate Chehere with the road network in Sindhupalchowk.
The contract stipulated that the project should be completed by May 2023, but locals report that the construction has been stalled for five years due to repeated delays and excuses from the contractor.
According to Niroj Maharjan, an engineer at the bridge sector office under the department, the construction company has failed to communicate or respond despite repeated attempts from the office.
“Even though the contract deadline was extended by 23 months and 25 days as per the department’s decision, the contractor still failed to resume work,” said Maharjan. The extended deadline expired on 9 Jestha.
The contract value for the project was Rs. 117.42 million, including VAT. So far, only three bridge pillars have been erected, and one span on the Kavrepalanchok side has been completed, according to Engineer Maharjan.
He added that the construction company has been repeatedly instructed—both verbally and in writing—to resume work and build river embankments to protect the bridge from floods, but the company has so far refused to comply.
Lekh Bahadur Shrestha, Ward Chairperson of Bhumlu Rural Municipality-1, said the incomplete bridge has severely affected the daily lives of local residents. “Due to the absence of the bridge, locals are forced to take a 15-kilometer detour, whereas the bridge would have reduced the walking distance to just four kilometers,” he said. Residents currently have to travel via Dolalghat and Tar.
Shrestha emphasized that the bridge remains in a neglected condition due to the contractor’s irresponsibility and added that efforts are now being made to seek an alternative solution in consultation with the Road Department and the construction company.
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