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Photo: Hari Prasad Koirala/TRN Bridge under Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road project (Western Section) of the Mahendra Highway.

Construction of three bridges under the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road project (Western Section) of the Mahendra Highway, which is being expanded with assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is progressing rapidly. However, road construction work has slowed down.

The Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road project has been divided into five separate contract packages. The Western Section office in Itahari is overseeing Packages 2, 3 and 5, while the Eastern Section office in Damak is responsible for Packages 1 and 4. The bridge works fall under Packages 4 and 5.

Modern arch-type bridges are being constructed at the Ratuwa River in Jhapa and the Lohandra and Bakraha rivers in Morang at a fast pace. The three bridges under Package 5 have achieved 41 per cent physical progress so far, compared to 22 per cent progress in the same period last year.

According to Project Chief Jagat Prajapati of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi Road Project (Western Section) Office in Itahari, the contract for these three bridges was awarded to the Covec–CRFG–China State Seventh JV at a cost of Rs. 5.65 billion.

Among the three, the Ratuwa River bridge has seen the highest progress. Chief Prajapati said that 55 per cent of the Ratuwa bridge has been completed. He informed that the 585-metre-long bridge will have three spans of 87.75 metres each.

Work on steel truss arch installation has been completed in one span, while finishing works are under way in the second span. Construction of the third span is expected to begin in the first week of Asar.

The bridges over the Bakraha River (385 metres) and the Lohandra River (318 metres) are comparatively shorter. According to the agreement, the bridge construction must be completed within the next eight months.

The project office said that the high-level technical work involving steel structures is being carried out by the Chinese company itself, while the remaining civil construction works are being undertaken by Nepali partner companies.

The 585-metre Ratuwa bridge will consist of a 264-metre steel arch section, while the remaining portion will be concrete. It will have three spans. The 385-metre Lohandra bridge will include two 80-metre steel spans, and the 318-metre Bakraha bridge will also have two spans. Steel truss arches are being constructed in the main river flow areas.

The project has said that technical arrangements have been made to ensure construction is not affected even during the monsoon season. At present, priority has been given to the Ratuwa bridge. Once its construction is completed, work on the Lohandra and Bakraha bridges will be accelerated.

Although 41 per cent progress has been achieved in bridge construction with eight months remaining, road construction is moving slowly.

The project, which was contracted on October 19, 2023 followed by beginning of work on February 2, 2024, is scheduled to be completed by mid-November, 2026. However, road works in the western section have reached only around 33 per cent physical progress on average.

Package 2, which includes a forest area, has achieved 42 per cent progress. The 10-kilometre section from Gothgaun to Labipur in Sunsari under Package 3 has made only 24 per cent progress so far.

While bridge construction may be completed within the next eight months, it appears that road construction will not be completed within five months.

By Hari Prasad Koirala