Gaighat, November 28

As construction of a concrete bridge over the Sunkoshi River at Phoksintar at the confluence of Khotang and Udayapur districts hasn’t finished on time, millions of rupees is being spent every year to instal temporary bailey bridge here.

Every year, it is the Gaighat-Diktel Road Project Office that installs bailey bridge over the river at the point through a tender. Work related to bailey bridge installation has already begun this year.

“This is the sixth time we’re getting the bridge installed. This year, it’s Regmi Sugam Aditya Construction Company which won the contract for around 6 million rupees,” said project chief Pashupati Gyawali. “As the company is doing its work at a rapid pace, I hope the installation work won’t take more than a week or so,” added Gyawali. “Had the concrete bridge been ready on time, money to instal and remove the temporary bridge would be saved,” said Gyawali.

Every year, bailey bridge over the river is installed in the winter season to facilitate direct transportation between Udayapur and Khotang districts and removed with the onset of monsoon.

According to sources, only 25 per cent construction work of the concrete bridge over the river had been finished by the end of its contract period in April this year. Construction of the bridge had started five years ago.

A contractor Gauri Parbati JV Construction Company had been entrusted with the project estimated to cost Rs 196 million.