Khotang, December 24

A Bailey bridge has been installed over the Sunkoshi River at Foksingatar to connect Khotang with Udayapur.

The installation of Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River along the Diktel-Gaighat road section has opened the short and straight route connecting Khotang with eastern Tarai.

A 50-metre long Bailey bridge came into operation from Saturday with the provision that it be run during winter and removed during monsoon.

The bridge was installed as an alternative since the construction of the bridge work remained sluggish even two years after contract signing.

The operation of the Bailey bridge has opened the short route to reach Dharan and Biratnagar from Diktel through Gaighat.

Transport Entrepreneurs Union Khotang General Secretary Ram Kumar Hingmang said that the operation of the short route had made it easier to reach Biratnagar and Dharan through Gaighat.

In the absence of Bailey bridge at Foksingtar, people were forced to use the long Diktel-Halesi-Jayaram-Ghurmi-Katari road to reach eastern Tarai.

District Coordination Committee Khotang Coordinator Babi Chamling said the Bailey bridge had become immensely helpful to open a fast track to connect Khotang and Bhojpur with the Tarai. Locals said that the route would be easy and fast for Khoatng locals and some folks of Bhojpur to visit eastern Tarai.

Installation of Bailey bridge at Foksingtar is beneficial for both Khotang and Bhojpur.

The construction of bridge at Foksingtar is sluggish. Contractor Company Gauri Parbati YP JV was given the contract to complete the bridge within three years around one-and-a-half-years ago.