Govt directs Pappu Construction to rebuild parts of Teku bridge

Kathmandu, July 17

The government has directed Pappu Construction — a company with a poor track record — to rebuild some parts of 62-metre-long Bishnumati bridge in Teku that have not met the set criteria.

Issuing a seven-day notice, Division Road Office Kathmandu (DROK) has asked Pappu to complete the bridge as per specifications in consultation with consultants and engineers.

Citing that the bridge in Teku is technically unstable, the Department of Roads has prohibited its use due to safety concerns. The Bishnumati bridge is yet to be handed over to the government.

While the DROK has issued notice to Pappu Construction many times to complete the works, the company has largely ignored the directions.

“If Pappu Construction does not complete the road as per the specifications within seven days, we will take legal action,” said an official at DROK.

Earlier, the Development and Technology Committee under Federal Parliament, after examining two bridges built by Pappu Construction — the one in Teku and 85- metre-long Bagmati bridge in Tinkune — had directed the government to ask the firm to rebuild both bridges.

Owing to substandard construction works in Sikta Irrigation Project located in Banke district and failure to complete it on schedule, the Public Procurement Monitoring Office under the Prime Minister’s Office had blacklisted Coastal-Pappu JV in November and barred it from bidding in the future.