KATHMANDU: Construction work on the much-delayed Kamala Bridge, located on the Kamala River at the Siraha–Dhanusha border under the Hulaki Highway project, is currently underway, with a target to bring it into operation by April 2026.
Despite the passage of nearly 14 years since the contract agreement was signed, the bridge could not be completed on time. Construction companies are now working under a revised schedule to complete the remaining works and open the bridge to traffic within the coming months.
The Kamala Bridge, which is being built under a design-and-build model by the contractor, has a total length of 469 metres.
Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Physical Infrastructure and Transport; and Urban Development Minister Kulman Ghising had conducted a field inspection on Mangsir 5 and directed the contractor to expedite construction and complete the bridge as soon as possible.
Minister Ghising warned that the contract could be terminated if progress remains unsatisfactory and said the project would be monitored regularly. He also instructed authorities to arrange temporary movement by installing hume pipes at the river crossing, a process that is currently underway.
Due to the prolonged delay in construction, local residents have been facing severe hardships, with vehicles forced to take long alternative routes and commuters compelled to cross the Kamala River under risky and difficult conditions.
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