Minister for Energy, Water Resources, Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure, Transport, and Urban Development Kul Man Ghising on Sunday inspected the Kankai Bridge in Jhapa, which has been left incomplete for the past 14 years.

The bridge, located under the Postal Highway and connecting Jhapa Rural Municipality-2 and Gaurigunj Rural Municipality-1, was inspected by Minister Ghising, who reviewed the progress of the construction work and held discussions with local residents.

The 723-meter-long concrete bridge was contracted in fiscal year 2010/11 to be constructed under the Design and Build model by Pappu-Mahadev Khimti Joint Venture (JV) at an estimated cost of around NPR 510 million. According to project officials, the bridge’s physical and financial progress currently stands at only about 55 percent.

Minister Ghising stated that he had learned the bridge project had remained neglected for years, and assured that the matter would now be thoroughly reviewed and a concrete decision made soon.

He said, “The bridge construction has been left abandoned for a long time. We will soon decide whether to terminate the existing contract and start a new process or take another course of action. We cannot leave a strategically important bridge—connected to people’s livelihoods—in this state. A quick resolution will be made.”

Local residents complained that the lack of a bridge has caused severe difficulties, affecting daily life, business activities, and tourism promotion, and demanded that construction be completed immediately. The contractor had worked up to 2019, but technical flaws were later identified, prompting a technical audit.

After the audit confirmed the defects, the contractor carried out some corrective work. However, the contract period expired in 2023 . In accordance with the latest amendment to the Public Procurement Regulations, the contractor has submitted an application requesting a time extension.

According to Yubaraj Pokharel, Chief of the Postal Highway Project Office in Itahari, 8 out of 19 bridge spans have been completed so far. Of the remaining 11, girders have been installed on 2 spans, foundation work has been completed on 6 spans, and 3 spans remain without foundations.

Similarly, Minister Ghising also inspected the Kankai Sanomai Khola Bridge at Jhapa Rural Municipality-2, which was damaged by continuous rainfall on October 4-5 . The bridge had collapsed due to flooding. The minister instructed officials to conduct a technical assessment and take necessary decisions.

Minister Ghising was accompanied by Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma, Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal, Director General of the Department of Roads Vijay Jaishi, Jhapa Chief District Officer Gopal Kumar Adhikari, and other officials.

Setopati