Locals in trouble after removal of bailey bridge over Sunkoshi river

लगानी न्यूज

४ जेष्ठ २०८३, सोमबार १०:२५May 18, 2026

Khotang. Khotang has been cut off from direct transport connectivity with the eastern Tarai after the temporary bailey bridge at Phoksingtar and Bangshighat of Sunkoshi was removed. Temporary bailey bridges at Phoksingtar and Bangshilaghat have been removed following the rise in the water level in the Sunkoshi River following incessant rains.

Locals have been facing problems after a temporary bailey bridge was constructed at two border points linking various districts in the eastern Terai.TAG_OPEN_div_38 In the absence of motorable concrete bridges at Phoksingtar and Bangshilaghat, the alternative of temporary bailey bridges has been put forward to be installed during winter and reopened after monsoon.

Binam Dahal, chief of Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang, said that the construction of the bailey bridge at Bangshilaghat has been started since May 27 with the water level in the Sunkoshi river increasing due to incessant rainfall with climate change.TAG_OPEN_div_36 For the first time, a temporary bailey bridge has been installed at Sunkoshi of Bangshighat linking Barahapokhari rural municipality-5 of Khotang and Chaudandigadhi municipality-1 of Udayapur.

{{TAG_OPEN_div_34} The temporary bailey bridge at Banshilaghat had facilitated the movement of people of Jantedhunga, Barahapokhari and Khotehang rural municipalities of Khotang and some villages of Bhojpur. Yubaraj Magar, a local, said that after removing the temporary bailey bridge at Bangshilaghat, the compulsion to travel to the eastern Terai districts through a suspension bridge through a suspension bridge for six months has been repeated.

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development under the Koshi Province government had purchased materials required for the temporary bailey bridge at Banshilaghat at a budget of Rs 18.7 million and handed it over to the Infrastructure Development Office, Khotang.TAG_OPEN_div_32 Temporary Bailey Bridge Gurukul Builders and Suppliers Pvt Ltd of Bangshilaghat was awarded the contract with a budget of Rs 57 lakh.

The Kalika-Vedansi JV has signed an agreement to complete the construction of the motorable bridge at Banshilaghat within 33 months at a cost of Rs 191.841 million.TAG_OPEN_div_30 Locals have accused the contractor of being dilly-dallying in the construction of the motorable bridge, which was started on November 15, 2079 BS.

Engineer TAG_OPEN_div_28 Suman Gole, information officer at the Gaighat Diktel Road Project Office, said that the temporary bailey bridge at Phoksingtar has been completely closed for traffic from May 17. The temporary bailey bridge at Phoksingtar at Sunkoshi along the Diktel-Gaighat road section of the Sagarmatha Highway has come into operation since January 12.

The contract to install a temporary bailey bridge at Phoksingtar was awarded to MA/S Aryan Construction Multi Purpose Pvt Ltd, Katari-3, Udayapur.TAG_OPEN_div_26 The contractor, MA/S Aryan Construction Multi Purpose Pvt Ltd, Katari, has signed the contract agreement with the contractor company Katari for Rs 9,677,937 including Value Added Tax (VAT).

The motorable bridge that connects Khotehang Rural Municipality-9, Lichkiramche of Khotang and Rautamai Rural Municipality-5 of Udayapur was swept away by the flood on September 26 last year.TAG_OPEN_div_24 Less than a year after the construction was completed and operational, the floods swept away it, relying on a temporary bailey bridge.

Rajan Prasad Acharya, president of Khotang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the problems of the people of Khotang will remain uninterrupted until the motorable concrete bridge at Phoksingtar of Sunkoshi is reconstructed.TAG_OPEN_div_22 “After removing the temporary bailey bridge at Phoksingtar, vehicles entering Khotang from the eastern Terai districts have to cross Jayaramghat via Ghurmi-Katari. “This is a circuitous route for the people of Khotange,” he said, adding, “The price of daily consumables will also increase by crossing Jayaramghat via Ghurmi-Katari along the Mid-Hill Highway.” It is necessary for the concerned authorities to pay attention to this. ”

Although it has been said that the necessary budget has been secured for the reconstruction of the motorable concrete bridge that was swept away by the floods in Phoksingtar, no process has moved forward so far.TAG_OPEN_div_20 CPN-UML central member Bishal Bhattarai said that the Ministry of Finance had allocated Rs 350 million in April last year for the reconstruction of motorable concrete bridge at Phoksingtar along the Diktel-Gaighat road section.