Dhading, April 3

Most of the suspension bridges in Dhadingbesi, Dhading, are in dilapidated condition and they are in need of immediate repair. This can invite untoward incident at any time but the authorities concerned haven’t paid any attention to the problem yet.

Locals are compelled to use these bridges putting their lives at high risk. Most of the suspension bridges in the area are in deplorable condition and run the risk of collapsing.

Locals said the bridges over Thopal and Palaku rivers in Nilkantha Municipality are badly in need of repair, but no one had taken any initiative to repair the bridges. “We are compelled to cross the river through the dilapidated bridges as the authorities concerned have shown no interest in addressing people’s problems,” said Hari Ghimire, a local. He said students in the area had to go to school crossing these bridges.

Neither the District Development Committee nor the municipality has taken responsibility to repair the bridges. The then District Development Committee had taken responsibility to repair and look after the bridges. The municipality said that the District Coordination Committee had to do the work which was done by the then district development committee.

Chief at DCC Jagannath Nepal said that the respective local levels have to take the responsibility of repairing and reconstructing the bridges and roads.

Meanwhile, locals said repair work could not be done on time as the DDC and the municipality both did not take the responsibility. They demanded that the dilapidated bridges be repaired soon.

Netra Prasad Nepal from Nilkantha Municipality said the dilapidated bridges had to be removed if no one was responsible for repairing these bridges. Deputy Mayor Mana Raj Bhandari said they had been holding discussions for the same.