Khotang. A tender has been called for the installation of a temporary bailey bridge over the Lapse (Pankhu) River along the Diktel-Chakhewabhanjyang road section of the Mid-Hill Highway.

The Pushpalal (Mid-hills) Highway Project Office, Ramechhap has announced a contract for the installation of temporary bailey bridge over Lapse rivulet linking Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality-8, Busoong and Lamidanda. Information Officer of the Office, Engineer Bharat Shrestha, said that preparations have been made to operate the vehicular movement by installing a temporary bailey bridge at a time when the construction of a concrete bridge over Lapse rivulet has been in limbo.

“We are preparing to operate a temporary bailey bridge at Lapse rivulet along the Diktel-Chakhewabhanjyang road section to resume vehicular movement for the time being”, he added. “The contract has been announced with the aim of completing the installation within three months of the approval of the contract”, he said, adding that temporary bailey bridges would be installed after signing the contract agreement to resume the vehicular movement before the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals. ”

The construction of a 15-metre motorable concrete bridge over Lapse rivulet was started in 2016. The contractor company, Siruwa Construction Pvt Ltd, had terminated the contract in 2079 BS after the construction work did not move ahead due to delay and negligence.

The Pushpalal (mid-hills) highway project had recommended the Department of Roads in 2079 BS to scrap the contract after the contractor company failed to construct motorable concrete bridges even after seven years of awarding the contract. Although the contract with the contractor company was terminated three years ago, the government of Nepal has not yet announced a new contract for the construction of the bridge. The contract agreement was signed with the aim of completing the construction of the motorable bridge by September 2073 BS. Except for the erection of pillars on the two sides of the river, no progress has been made.

The deadline for the construction of the bridge was extended for the third time on October 12, 2020. Locals said pedestrians, cargo and passenger vehicles, ambulances and motorbikes are stranded for hours during the rainy season for lack of bridge over the Lapse rivulet. The road at Lapse rivulet has been disrupted for a long time from time to time when floods and landslides occur during the rainy season.

Vehicular movement was halted for a week after the flood occurred at Lapse rivulet on the night of June 10. At present, arrangements have been made for vehicles to cross the flood-affected road by installing hum pipes.

Meanwhile, a new contract has been called for blacktopping the Sekhuwa-Chakhewabhanjyang road section of the Diktel-Chakhewabhanjyang road section of the Mid-Hill Highway. The contractor, Bharat Construction-Mainachuli-Siddhishahi JV Kathmandu, failed to complete the project.

The contract agreement was signed with the contractor company on March 15, 2015 with the intention to complete the project by March 15, 2015. The contract was terminated on May 28, 2080 after the contractor failed to complete the blacktopping work despite the expiry of the deadline extended time and again. All sections of the Diktel-Chakhewabhanjyang road section except the Sekhuwa-Chakhewa Bhanjyang section have been blacktopped. Vehicular movement along the Sekhuwa-Chakhewabhanjyang road section, which has not been blacktopped due to the negligence of the contractor, has been obstructed time and again due to dust during winter and mud during rainy season.