Jhapa, December 1 Six months after the foundation stone was laid, the construction of a bridge over the Biring River has been left in  limbo in Jhapa. The bridge will link Arjundhara Municipality and Buddhashanti Rural Municipality. Amidst a programme in May, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation of stone of the bridge in the presence of the road division office staffers. Locals say the contractor company has yet to start construction of the bridge. Waiba Elite JV, Kathmandu, had won the contract to build the bridge within three years at the cost of Rs 230 million. Former lawmaker Prem Giri said Waiba Elite JV had been delaying the construction work demanding that the project cost be increased. Project Chief Arjun Aryal of Department of Roads said the construction process was delayed as the contractor company had yet to finalise detailed project report. He added though the company submitted the bridge’s DPR three times, they were not approved. “The DRP will be approved if it is prepared as per the criteria of the department,” he said. Director General Arjun Jung Thapa at DoR said construction work would start soon. He added construction was delayed due to the delay in allocation of budget. “Action will be taken against the construction company if construction work is not started even after the allocation of the budget,” he added.