• Arragements have been made to monitor newly constructed suspension bridges and repair old ones

Kathmandu, June 2

The task of replacing cable contraptions, locally known as tuin, with suspension bridges has reached its final stage.

Of the 171 cable contraptions existing in various districts that were targeted to be phased out, 24 have been replaced so far, according to Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads.

Director General at DoLIDAR Ram Krishna Sapkota shared that the replacement of the remaining cable contraptions would be completed by the end of July 2017. He said the government had prioritised the task and the results so far was satisfactory.

Cable contraptions were replaced at Suwanibesi of Lalitpur, Jalbire of Gorkha, Chhotechiple, Raikar, Daikhola, Rigne of Surkhet, Ghetma Piparchaur of Jajarkot, Dahikhola of Dailekh Jaljibi of Darchula, Simtal of Chitwan, Sungere of Makawanpur, Chunwangkhola of Rolpa, Jiujiula, Khalibang, Kimubot, Pukchibang, Pedikhola and Khulalu of Rukum, Khulalu of Kalikot, Pathariya of Kanchanpur, Jaldevighat of Nawalparasi, Bihani Petrol Pump of Dhading, Tirgun of Darjula and Badalebesi of Khotang.

Similarly,  work on replacing cable contraptions is at their final phases at different places in Bhojpur, Udaypur and Nuwakot, among other districts, he added.

The DoLIDAR has made arrangements for its technical offices in the respective districts to regularly monitor the newly constructed suspension bridges and repair the old ones. Likewise, a total of 4,885 kilometre rural roads have been constructed so far. “Focus has been given on operating these roads round the year and on upgrading and blacktopping them,” he said.

The government has an ambitious plan of connecting the rural road network. Government efforts are under way for road connectivity in the remaining 368 VDCs that are yet to be accommodated by the plan. Sapkota stressed the need for establishing infrastructure development departments in all seven provinces, and said the DoLIDAR would coordinate for development of the infrastructures at provincial and local levels. The public-private approach should be adopted for that, he added.