RAUTAHAT, MARCH 17 The construction of a bridge over the Bagmati River linking Rautahat and Sarlahi districts has remained incomplete for nearly nine years, forcing thousands of local residents to cross the river through risky means every day. The bridge is being built to connect Gangapipra of Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality–1 in Rautahat with Khairwa of Ramnagar Rural Municipality in Sarlahi. However, the project has been left unfinished after the contractor reportedly abandoned the site. The contract for the bridge construction was signed on July 2016 with Toodi–Rasuwa–Pappu JV at a cost of Rs 863.7 million. Although the project was initially expected to be completed within a few years, the deadline has been extended multiple times. According to the latest schedule, the project was supposed to be completed by October–November 2026. However, locals say the construction company has not carried out any work at the site for the past two years. Residents say the issue of delayed construction frequently becomes an election agenda but receives little attention once the polls are over. During the recent parliamentary elections, candidates from Sarlahi Constituency–4 and Rautahat Constituency–1 had also pledged to complete the bridge. Local residents say a site inspection was carried out a few months ago by then Minister for Physical Infrastructure Kulman Ghising, who directed the contractor to expedite the work. However, construction has yet to resume. Similarly, Amaresh Kumar Singh, the Member of Parliament elected from Sarlahi–4, had pledged during election campaigns to accelerate the project, while Gagan Kumar Thapa had also promised to initiate efforts for its completion. Concerns have also been raised about the quality of materials used in the bridge construction. Locals said one of the bridge pillars was washed away by floods in 2080 BS, leaving the project further stalled. The floods reportedly damaged one span and a foundation of the bridge. Locals have accused the contractor of abandoning the site citing soil testing and design review issues. Although authorities claim that around 80 percent of the work has been completed, the bridge remains non-operational. As a result, thousands of people are forced to cross the river daily using makeshift bamboo structures, putting their safety at risk. Locals say the long-delayed project has now become a symbol of unfulfilled political promises and administrative negligence, rather than development.