KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday directed concerned government officials to expedite the construction of Jayaramghat bridge over the Dudhkoshi River, connecting Khotang and Okhaldhunga district, and complete it by mid-April 2017.

Dahal called the officials from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Development, the Eastern Regional Administration Office and the Department of Roads today seeking clarification for the delayed construction, according to a statement issued by the PM's Secretariat.

Earlier, PM Dahal, who had reached the district last week in order to monitor hydropower projects in the area, had made a commitment to the locals to resume the construction of the bridge there soon, the statement added.

In response, the officials have expressed their commitments to contact the contractors and expedite the bridge construction.

The construction of the bridge that started on July 07, 2009 was intended to be completed by November 30, 2013. However, the construction is still in limbo barring locals there to travel to the neighbouring districts.