Construction of two bridges over the Karnali River reaches completion

Tikapur: Construction of two more concrete bridges over the Karnali river connecting Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces has been completed. The bridge was constructed to increase the connectivity between Kailali district of Sudurpaschim Province and the Surkhet district of Karnali Province. It is said that the construction of the bridge will facilitate traffic and promote business.

The bridge that has been constructed across the Karnali River will connect Panchapuri Municipality-11, Kuine in Surkhet, and Mohanyal in Kailali, making it convenient for the citizens of Terai as well as the hilly region to trade. Until now the people from the hilly region were traveling on foot to access the region.

Not only the citizens of Kailali and Surkhet travel through that road, but also the citizens of the hilly districts of Far-West and Karnali provinces. Ward President of Panchapuri Municipality-10 of Surkhet Hariprasad Dhakal informed that this bridge will not only connect Ghatgaon, Galta, and Tatapani but also the people of Dailekh, Achham, Kalikot, Humla, and Jumla. "It was very uncomfortable to travel as we seldom used a boat to get across the river. We had to wait for two to four days before sailing", he said, "Now it has become very easy. It is not only a road but also a means of connecting the people of Achham, Dailekh, Kalikot, Humla, Jumla with Terai."

In the past, citizens traveling through this road had a long and tedious journey from the hilly regions, as there was no suspension bridge across the Karnali river, one had to wait two to three days to cross the river by boat. Nandram Khanal, Ward President of Choukune Rural Municipality-10 said that after the construction of the bridge, all the problems were solved. “This is a very old road. In the past, people had to come by horse and wait for the boat. But now it's easy to walk whenever you want", he said. "People in the hilly districts have become very comfortable after the bridge was built."

These routes, which are a short distance connecting the plains and hills of western Nepal to the mountains, have been popular since before. Kamal Saud, vice president of Mohanyal Rural Municipality, informed that since the road has a history after the bridge is built there, the Chisapani Kuine area can be developed as a tourist area as well.

“The path holds a traditional history, the people from the hilly regions have accessed it for trade for a long time.  This is the road where the people of the hilly district come to visit, is also beautiful from the tourist point of view", he said, "This road connects not only the Terai and the mountains but also the Himalayan district, so it has a lot of benefits."

Anak Construction Roshan JV started the construction of the Chipleghat Bridge in the year 2074. The construction work has been completed. The Chipleghat Bridge connecting Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7 of Kailali and Chokune Rural Municipality-10 of Surkhet was built at a cost of Rs 62 crore. The 550-meter-long bridge has eight spans.

Another bridge has been constructed at Kuineghat connecting Mohanyal Rural Municipality-7 of Kailali and Panchapuri Municipality-11 of Surkhet. The construction of this bridge constructed by Anak Lumbini JV has also reached its final stage. The three hundred-meter-long multi-span arch bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs.32 crore.

Dinesh Shrestha, the manager of the bridge construction company, said that the construction of the bridge has reached its final stage and preparations are being made to move vehicles over the bridge within the next decade. "Now the bridge built at Karnali Chipleghat has been completed. On the other side of the bridge, a way for people to walk is being built. Now it will be operational in a few days", he said.

Both these bridges were built under the bridge project of the Road Department of the Government of Nepal. Revati Dhami, a local, said that the construction of the bridge is a development work as well as a work to connect citizens with roads and facilities. "We have been freed from the dangerous journey by boat", he said, "Now that the bridge has been built, the road network that can easily reach here should be expanded."