Damauli, November 1

An under-construction motorable bridge over the Sangekhola that connects Byas Municipality and Myagde Rural Municipality has been left in limbo for the last 18 months in Tanahun.

Hira and Namita Construction had bagged the contract in 2015. The construction company was given one-and-a-half years to complete the 40-metre long bridge. The contract was renewed for the second time after the contractor failed to complete the work due to lack of workers needed for the construction work.

Former ward civil forum coordinator Shreebhadra Acharya of Myagde Rural Municipality said that the construction of the bridge had been halted for the 18 months now. He said the contractor had halted construction on one or the other pretext. “We have requested the contractor to continue work, but in vain,” he added. Slow progress of the project work has irked the locals.

Meanwhile, engineer Karna KC at Road Division Office, Tanahun, said construction work would resume soon. “I am in contact with the contractor and the work will resume after Tihar festival,” he said. KC added that action would be taken against the contractor if work was not resumed. He said almost 75 per cent of construction work had been completed. “The bridge construction work could not be completed on time as the materials required for the construction had to be brought from India,” he said.

District Coordination Committee, Tanahun, Chief Shantiraman Wagle said he was closely observing the work of the contractor. He added that he urged the authority concerned to resume the halted work soon.