PHIDIM, August 12  

Due to gross negligence on the part of the contractor, construction of a bridge over Femekhola that links Phidim and Yangnam Phalaut has been left in limbo.

The district denizens have no option but to take risk their lives while crossing the river, which flows through the border of Phidim and Nagin.

As per the agreement, the contractor was supposed to complete the construction two years ago, but it is yet to get its final shape. Hence, the people are compelled to drive their vehicles though it and this is very risky. The pressure of

the vehicles along the road section has been rising, as it connects Phidim to Sikkim of India and other parts of the neighbouring country.

“Though construction of the bridge was expected to be completed long back, it is remains incomplete,” complained the locals.

People cross the river in their vehicles when the water flow goes down. Bike riders have to use the dilapidated suspension bridge due to lack of other options.

According to sources, hundreds of vehicles ply to and from Nagin, Sidin, Yangnam, Prangbum, Memeng and Lungrupa, among other places along the road section on a daily basis.

“Though it is little easier to cross the river during winter, it is much more risky during monsoon even by using vehicles,” said Hasta Magar. He said that his vehicles were swept away many times while crossing the river during monsoon.

“The project, which was estimated to cost around Rs 260 million was contracted to Yakthunghang Construction Pvt Ltd for Rs 192 million through bidding,” said Ugra Narayan Sah, a site engineer at the Road Divisional Office in Ilam.

Tej Kumar Kurumwang, manager of the construction company, said they could not complete the project within the stipulated time as the bridge was swept away by floods last year.

“The rising water flow in the river has posed a challenge to construction work,” he said.

The locals have been disappointed as construction of the much-awaited bridge has been in limbo for long in the district. They complained that the contractor company and Road Division Office have not been able to understand the sentiments of service seekers.

“We have long been facing a very hard and risky travel especially while crossing the river due to lack of timely construction of the bridge,” said Dhan Kumar Lawati of Sidin.