Sankatti bridge nears completion, ending boat dependency across Karnali river

Tikapur: The construction of the bridge at Sankatti Ghat on the Karnali River, connecting Kailali and Bardiya districts, has reached its final stage.

According to Dhirendra Sahni, an engineer at the construction company, an agreement has been made to complete the project by Asoj 17, 2083 BS. However, efforts are underway to finish the work ahead of schedule. “Construction began in 2080 after the survey agreement was signed in Poush 2079 BS. Although the deadline is Asoj, we are working to complete it by the end of Asad and hand it over to the government,” he said, adding that the project may be completed even before the agreed date.

All 14 pillars of the bridge have been constructed, and work is currently ongoing on the 12th span. The construction team aims to complete this span within the next 15 days and proceed with the 13th span. Alongside the span work, embankment construction on the Kailali side is also progressing. As the project nears completion, locals have already started using part of the bridge along with the river path to cross.

With the river flow diverted, residents no longer need to rely on boats for crossing, as was previously required. Bharat BK of Tikapur shared that he can now cross the river using his own vehicle. “Earlier, we had to pay to cross by boat, but now we have been spared. Once the bridge is completed, it will bring great relief to the people of Kailali and Bardiya,” he said.

Another local, Janak Bahadur Bista, expressed similar satisfaction. He noted that many residents of Kailali own farmland in Bardiya and need to travel frequently. “Previously, the lack of a bridge caused significant difficulties, but now we can cross the river with confidence,” he said.

Residents highlighted that while people from Kailali travel to Bardiya for farming, those from Bardiya visit Tikapur for shopping and medical services. The bridge is expected to benefit not only these districts but also improve connectivity to remote areas and Lumbini Province. “We used to take a longer route via Satti Bridge due to fear of traveling by boat. Now, the travel distance will be reduced by 20 kilometers,” a local said.

Karan Chaudhary of Sarkhol, Geruwa Rural Municipality-1, Bardiya, said that travel between Kailali and Bardiya has become easier. “Earlier, a one-way trip took one and a half to two hours, but now a round trip can be completed within an hour,” he said, adding that even partial use of the bridge has already brought significant convenience. He urged authorities to complete the construction before the upcoming monsoon and ensure access for larger vehicles.

The bridge, being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.18 billion, is 752 meters long and 11 meters wide, with 7.5 meters allocated for vehicles and the remaining space for pedestrians on both sides. The construction agreement, signed on Poush 17, 2079 BS, includes the completion of 500 meters of access roads on both ends and 115 meters of river control work on each side.

Previously, residents relied on the Karnali Bridge at Chisapani and the Sattighat bridge on the Postal Highway as alternative routes. With the completion of the Sankatti bridge, there will be three bridges over the Karnali River connecting Kailali and Bardiya. The Chisapani bridge, built in 2050 BS as a gateway to the Far West, and the Sattighat bridge, constructed in 2073 BS linking Tikapur and Rajapur municipalities, are already in operation.