Dhangadi, August 9

Construction of a bridge over the Sunkoshi River at Khaireni has brought smiles on the faces of people living in western Ramechhap.

With the completion of the bridge construction work, locals now can travel six-hour-long journey from Ramechhap to Kathmandu within three hours. People of over 15 wards of Sunapati, Doramba and Khandadevi rural municipalities in the district have benefited after the bridge came into operation.

“Earlier, we had to face a lot of hassles to transport food and construction materials due to lack of bridge, but with the operation of Khaireni Bridge, transportation of goods has become easier and cheaper,” said Sunapati RM Chair Dhawa lama.

Contract for construction of the bridge was signed in fiscal 2007/08 with two-year deadline. Contractor Company Kankai JV attributed inordinate delay in bridge completion to a number of technical issues.

“It took long, as we had to change the design midway following implementation of the project and started work all over again, among other issues,” said the contractor company.

Having witnessed the completion of reinforced cement concrete slab last year, the bridge was inaugurated by Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair Puspa Kamal Dahal three days ago after the work related to installation of steel truss on the northern part of the bridge was over lately.

Construction companies Kankai, Lama Construction Pvt Ltd and Khampache Construction Services had been entrusted with responsibility to construct the 83-metre long bridge. After Khampache Construction Services and Lama Construction Pvt Ltd pulled out of the project, Kankai Construction Service had completed the bridge works.