RAUTAHAT: Vehicular movement along the Gaur-Gangapipara road section has been obstructed for the past two months after a part of the poorly constructed structure crumbled in Rautahat.

The bridge was constructed five years ago with an investment of around 3.7 million rupees, as per the Rural Road Infrastructure Project. However, after of the wing wall collapsed about two months ago the bridge has been rendered inoperable.

Locals said poor design was responsible for the damage. “The collapse was expected as the base of the bridge itself was weak,” said Kailash Sahani of Saruatha.

The bridge was connected some 25 far-flung VDCs to the district headquarters Gaur. “The bridge was a great relief to us, but after it collapsed we have to make a long detour to go to the headquarters,” said Ramji Thakur of Matsari.

Though the District Development Committee had assigned a company to repair the bridge about one-and-a-half month ago, work has yet to begin.

Rautahat Acting Local Development Officer and District Technician’s office Chief Mukti Bhattarai informed that his office has issued fresh directives to the company to start repairs at the earliest.