Movement eased after bridge construction

Bhajani (Kailali): Movement has become easier after the construction of a concrete bridge on the Karnali River connecting Tikapur Municipality of Kailali and Geruwa Rural Municipality of Bardiya.

The boat service that had been operating for years has been permanently stopped from this year. The bridge work has reached the completion stage two months ahead of the agreement. “Tikapur has become a nearby market for us,” said Shanti Chaudhary of Geruwa Rural Municipality, “There will be no problem reaching Tikapur to find work.” She also said that Geruwa and Tikapur are close in terms of family ties.

The situation of locals who commute for daily work having to pay for river crossings has ended. “Amid the compulsion to cross the river for work, there was an obligation to pay thousands of rupees a year just for boat rides,” said Shantalal Katharia of Tikapur. “On the one hand, the money that had to be paid for that boat has been saved, and on the other hand, movement has been possible without taking any risks.” He expressed confidence that trade relations between Kailali and Bardiya will be further strengthened.

Tikapur Municipality had made efforts to build the bridge to develop Tikapur as a trade center. The main agenda of the industrial trade fair organized annually by the Tikapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry was this concrete bridge. After the bridge construction reached its final stage, Geruwa Rural Municipality has completed blacktopping the road leading to the bridge.

Local Prakash Chaudhary said that after the blacktopping of the road from Shantibazaar, the main market of Geruwa, to Sankatti Bridge, movement has become easier. He expressed confidence that mobility will be easier at all times.

Tikapur Municipality has also begun blacktopping work up to the bridge. Tikapur Municipality Engineer Rajendra Rawal said that blacktopping of one and a half kilometers of road has started in the current fiscal year at a cost of Rs 16.4 million. According to him, graveling of the remaining 600 meters of road has also started. “This year, due to lack of budget, all the roads from the market to the bridge could not be blacktopped,” he said. “If the municipality can ensure the budget next year, it will not take 10 minutes to reach the bridge from Tikapur.”

The bridge construction company will build a 250-meter blacktop road on both sides of the bridge. It is believed that the bridge under construction can be connected to the tourism sector along with transportation. Rani Karnali Community Forest, Sheetal Community Forest and Janshakti Community Forest are located in the area. A view tower has been built within Janshakti Community Forest to observe the Karnali River. The ravines created by the Karnali River can also be observed from the bridge. “There is a high possibility that tourists who have reached the tourist area Tikapur Park can reach Sankatti for more entertainment,” said local Puskal Bishwakarma. “It may be more convenient for tourists who still use the waterway.”

The work on the bridge, for which a contract was signed in Poush 2079 BS, started a year late. The work is being carried out by Rasuwa Construction. “The bridge work started a year late due to design preparation, environmental assessment, etc.,” said Krishna Dhungel, site in-charge of the construction. “After the work started, we worked day and night and completed the work two months ahead of the agreement.” He said that if the government had ensured the budget on time, the work would have been completed by last Chaitra.

Dhungel said that construction work has not yet received payment of Rs 120 million. The 752-meter-long and 11-meter-wide bridge has 14 pillars. The cost of the bridge is Rs 1.4 billion and an additional Rs 140 million for road and river control, totaling Rs 1.18 billion. “The money for completed work is yet to be paid. Moreover, there is a fear that there will be problems with payment even after the work is completed,” he said. “Daily wage laborers are facing more problems than us because they are not paid on time. Since the government has not been able to pay, workers are not receiving timely wages.”