Baglung. The Maldhunga bridge linking Baglung and Parbat, which was damaged by the flood in the Kaligandaki River on September 11, is being brought into operation before the next Dashain festival. The Road Division Office, Pokhara, is preparing to bring the bridge into operation before Dashain and is carrying out the repair work at a rapid pace.

The Maldhunga-Beni route is being used as an alternative to the Maldhunga bridge and the Baglung road via Falebas-Jaiminighat of Parbat is being used as an alternative to the Maldhunga bridge. The 114-metre-long bridge has been damaged by about 30 meters of the approach road and the connectivity between the two districts has not been easy for the past 10 days. Initially, there was a disconnection, but now the movement is being done through an alternative route.

It has also cut off the connectivity to Baglung, Rukum and Rolpa via the Mid-Hill Highway. The Road Division Office, Pokhara, has said that the bridge will come into operation in the next few days as the bridge has been repaired 24 hours a day.

Former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandra Prasad Dhakal, who visited the site of the Maldhunga bridge linking Baglung and Parbat, said that the tourists and passengers should be informed about the alternative route to reach Baglung for the time being.

He said, “The Maldhunga bridge is of national importance. The bridge should be brought into operation as soon as possible. The progress of the work is also going well and it is also seen that it will be constructed soon. In addition, if the alternative route can be made more mobile, it will facilitate tourism and import and export in this area.

According to him, this bridge is not only a bridge but also a bridge connecting Baglung to the national highway, the Kaligandaki corridor connecting India and China and the Mid-Hill Highway that crosses the hills.

Chief of the Road Division Office, Hari Subedi, said that alternative routes are being used after the Maldhunga bridge remaining closed as the main entry point to Baglung. ”

Amar Adhikari, an engineer at the Road Division Office, Pokhara, said that the repair work of Maldhunga Motorable Bridge over Kaligandaki River, which connects Parbat and Baglung under the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway, is being carried out 24 hours with the help of geobag and geograde technology.

Adhikari said that efforts are being made to bring the bridge into operation at the earliest by working 24 hours a day as there is shortage of foodstuffs, gas and other essential goods in Baglung as the festival season is approaching.

According to Arjun Chokhal, a tourism entrepreneur of Baglung, gas, petroleum products and food grains are being imported regularly through alternative routes in Baglung Bazaar. He said that the locals, tourists and other passengers have also been informed about the use of alternative routes.