Construction delay of Mahakali bridge puts economic border development plan in jeopardy

Mahendranagar: The plan to develop the under-construction Mahakali River bridge in Kanchanpur as a key economic border has become uncertain due to prolonged delays. Although 95 percent of the work on the four-lane concrete bridge has been completed, the remaining construction has stalled for over a year.

Ravi Shah, Information Officer of the Planning Office, stated that government apathy has hindered progress, affecting plans to develop the bridge as the main economic border of the Far West and to expand trade by linking it to the Mahakali Corridor.

The construction of the dam, or ‘guide bond,’ alongside the 800-meter-long four-lane bridge—a major project in the Far West—could not begin in the current fiscal year. The bridge’s construction had initially been affected by floods in the Mahakali River four years ago. Last Baisakh, the government declared the bridge a crisis area and tasked the Nepali Army with rebuilding the dam to protect riverside settlements. The Army completed the three-month assignment and returned in last Shrawan.

Although the design change for the guide bond was approved, the Kumar Shrestha Construction Company and China Fuel Construction Company (CFC) JV, responsible for the bridge, halted work last year due to the absence of a ‘variation order.’ The companies even requested contract cancellation after the Road Department and higher authorities failed to finalize the variation issue.

“The contract with the construction company has not been fully canceled. The Army completed its assigned task, but currently 262 meters of the guide bond’s left side has been damaged,” Shah added. A Road Department team, led by Joint Secretary Thaneshwor Khatri, visited the site to monitor the stalled construction and assess the post-flood situation.

Shah noted that the Army has spent Rs 200 million on temporary measures to prevent further damage. “Even though this is the right time to resume construction, confusion persists as the matter has not been finalized,” he said. The Planning Office is awaiting higher authority approval to proceed.

Initially, a guide bond of large stones had been agreed upon, but the design was changed due to difficulty in sourcing materials. The bridge, with an estimated cost of Rs 3.66 billion, began construction in Bhadra 2074 BS.

Dinesh Malla, Senior Vice President of Kanchanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed concern over the delays, noting that efforts to link the bridge with the Mahakali Corridor and develop it as an economic gateway are being undermined. “After investing heavily and completing 95 percent of the work, it is concerning that minor issues remain unresolved,” he said.

Malla added that the Dodhara Chandni dry port, combined with the bridge, could transform the western border into a major economic gateway, lamenting that government and institutional negligence is forcing construction companies to withdraw.