Navalparasi (Bardaghat Susta Purba), Navalpur’s Kawasoti-based Kerung Khola bridge construction project is facing a significant delay as the contractor has been negligent in completing the work. The construction of this bridge has been in an incomplete state for the past three years. This bridge, which connects Kawasoti Municipality Ward 3 and 4, has been left incomplete.
The construction of the bridge was supposed to be completed by the end of the fiscal year 2077 B.S. (2020-2021), but it is still far from finished, and the contractor has not maintained regular communication with the concerned authorities. Narayan Prasad Lohani, the chairman of Ward 4, Kawasoti Municipality, expressed his concerns about the delayed bridge construction project. The construction work on the bridge began in fiscal year 2075 B.S. (2018-2019), and while some portions of the bridge have been completed, work on the middle section remains pending.
Lohani mentioned, “We have repeatedly tried to contact the contractor from the Ward and the Municipality, urging them to expedite the construction. However the contractor has been irregular in communication and has not made progress in the work.” He also highlighted the potential problems that might arise due to the delay in bridge construction, especially during the rainy season.
The bridge, which is approximately 140 meters long, was initially awarded for construction at a cost of around NPR 10 crores and 50 lakhs. However, due to repeated extensions of the deadline, the project has not reached completion. The latest extension was granted in the fiscal year 2080 B.S. (2023-2024). As of now, there is no progress on the construction, and the bridge project remains in limbo, as explained by Chairman Lohani.
In addition to the Kerung Khola bridge, there have been concerns about the construction of a bridge in Hupsekot Village Municipality, which connects with Kawasoti-3 and 4. Delay in the construction of these bridges has caused frustration among the local residents.
After the contractor abandoned the unfinished bridge project, Kawasoti Municipality had previously communicated with the District Administration Office in Nawalpur and initiated necessary actions to urge the contractor to resume work. In the past July, the construction company had assured that they would start work as soon as possible after clearing the landslide on the site. However, even to this day, no progress has been made, according to Chairman Lohani.
According to Rajendra Maharjan, an engineer at the Bharatpur Road Division Office, since the deadline for the bridge construction has already expired, any further extension of the deadline will require a decision from the Cabinet. The alternative is to impose a 10% penalty on the contractor and assign the work to someone else. “The delay in completing the bridge construction is concerning, and the extension of the deadline has not been approved. The central government will need to extend the deadline or allow for a penalty to move the project forward,” he stated. He also emphasized the need for prompt action, especially with reduced rainfall in the area.
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