Kathmandu, July 31

The government has directed Pappu Construction — a company with a poor track record — to dismantle and rebuild 85-metre-long Bagmati Arch Bridge in Tinkune as per the exact specification mentioned in the bidding documents.

After the government’s technical study team found that the construction firm had carried out substandard work and that the base of the bridge is unstable, Kathmandu Valley Road Expansion Project has sent a notice to Pappu Construction to dismantle and rebuild the bridge as soon as possible.

The project has also accused Pappu of not following proper engineering guidelines and failing to meet the criteria set by the project for construction of the bridge.

Earlier, in May, the road expansion project had given a verbal direction to Pappu to rebuild the bridge. The construction company, however, neglected the direction and continued with the construction after halting it for a while.

An investigation carried out by Pulchowk Engineering Campus at the behest of the government had revealed that Pappu Construction had to instal 29 piles, of which 20 meters had to be under the surface. However, the piles actually measured only 16 metres under the surface.

“As per the report and recommendations, we have directed Pappu to completely demolish the bridge and rebuild it again,” said Bishwa Bijaya Lal Shrestha, senior divisional engineer at Kathmandu Valley Road Expansion Project.

Pappu Construction had won the bid to build this project in December 2014, with the initial completion deadline set for June 2018. The deadline has now been extended to June 2020.

Pappu Construction had made the lowest bid of Rs 210 million for the project. However, the government has already disbursed Rs 60 million to the company till date, while only 25 per cent of the construction of the bridge has been completed.

Earlier, the Division Road Office Kathmandu had also directed Pappu Construction to rebuild some parts of 62-metre-long Bishnumati Bridge in Teku that have not met the set criteria. Division Road Office Kathmandu had asked Pappu to complete the bridge as per specifications in consultation with consultants and engineers.

However, the construction company has largely ignored the direction till date.