Dec 13, Kathmandu - Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising has warned that the contract for the swing bridge will be terminated if work is not started within a month.

While inspecting the abandoned swing bridge connecting Aanbu Khaireni Rural Municipality-5 in Tanahun and Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29 in Chitwan today, Minister Ghising has directed the construction entrepreneurs to start work within a month.

Stating that the abandoned bridge has been a national topic of discussion for a long time, Minister Ghising said that if the work is not done, there is no other option but to terminate the contract. He said, “The swing bridge will have to be built anyway. The President is also interested in this. Do the work, if not, tell me.”

Minister Ghising has instructed the Road Department to immediately approve the design of the swing bridge, which has been changed and brought to the Road Department. He said, “Why did you not work on the old design for nine years? Delays in development construction are unacceptable.”

If the work over the Trishuli River, connecting Aanbukhaireni Rural Municipality-5 and Bharatpur Metropolitan City-29, had been completed as per the agreement, a concrete bridge could have been built by now.

Although the construction of the bridge began eleven years ago, only pillars have been erected on both sides so far. An agreement was first signed with the defunct Sanjeevani Construction Company, Hetauda, ​​in Asdha 2070 BS for the construction of the bridge. After repeated extensions and design changes, the last agreement was made in Magh 2075 BS for the construction, and the construction of the bridge was to be completed in Chaitra 2078 BS. According to the Road Division Office, only about 50 percent of the work has been completed so far.

The bridge will be 105 meters long and 11 meters wide including the sidewalk. The cost of the bridge at the time of the agreement was Rs. 95.6 million. After the completion of the motorable bridge on the Buddha Singh Marg, the shortest distance connecting Gandaki Province to Narayangadh in Chitwan, the distance between Pokhara and Damauli to Narayangadh will be 23 kilometers shorter than the currently operating Mugling-Narayangadh road. Due to the lack of a motorable bridge on the Ghumaune, vehicles are forced to return to the Tanahun border.