Rasuwa. The Nepal-China Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi is to be constructed within a month. According to Chinese officials, the construction of the Miteri Bridge is expected to be completed within a month. The Chinese side has been constructing the bridge at a time when the movement between the two countries was cut off due to the flooding of the Lhende River in June last year.

Chief District Officer of Rasuwa district, Rajesh Panthi, said that the bridge construction would be completed within a month after holding discussions with Chinese officials.

According to him, the Chinese side has given priority to the construction of the Miteri bridge at Rasuwagadhi despite adverse weather and the vehicular movement would resume within a month if situation is not out of control.

Chief Customs Officer Tulasi Prasad Bhattarai said that at least Rs 14-15 billion revenue has been lost due to the sweeping away of the Miteri Bridge. In the same period of the last fiscal year, customs duty of Rs 14 billion was collected.

According to technicians working in the field, the construction of 16-km highway along the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road section has not progressed as per the expectation. According to the Department of Roads, the maintenance of the road has not been carried out as expected due to the deepening of landslides in the hills between Timure and Tatopani, the river eroding the road at many places including the cliff near Lingling, Kagatiwari, and the southern part of Ghattekhola.

According to the District Administration Office, Rasuwa, the Disaster Management Committee has directed the authorities to complete the construction of the road section as soon as possible.