Ilam. Locals are elated with the construction of a suspension bridge over Mai Khola.

The bridge at Kailatar of ward no 8 and 10 of Ilam municipality has been constructed at a cost of Rs 8.471 million.

The construction of a 179-metre-long suspension bridge in the fiscal year 2082/083 BS with the investment of the Koshi Province government has eased the mobility of the locals.

Ranjay Singh, chief of Infrastructure Development Office, Ilam, said the locals were happy with the construction of a bridge at Kailatar along the Tilkeni-Silpur road.

Locals said that with the construction of the bridge, the compulsion to travel for hours on the road between Rajduwali and Simalgolai has ended.

Santosh Gole of Ilam Municipality-8 said that the suspension bridge has helped people to cross the Maikhola Barika settlement and come to Bari from the other settlements.

“In winter, it was easy to cross the river. But to reach the same place during the rainy season, we had to wander for hours either to Rajduwali or to Simalgolai,” he said, adding, “Now we are free from that problem.” ”

He said that the number of people coming to the area for roaming, making TikTok and taking pictures has increased after the construction of the suspension bridge.

Ward Chairman of Ilam Municipality-8, Dalman Tamang, said that the same bridge is being used to travel to Ilam from Ilam to Ilam after the Ilam-Rajduwali road section was obstructed due to landslide.

“Hundreds of motorbikes have started plying on this route on a daily basis”, said ward chair Tamang, adding, “This is the shortest route to connect the Mechi highway from the district headquarters due to the closure of Ilam-Rajduwali road section, making it an appropriate alternative for two-wheelers”. ”

According to him, the Tilkeni-Simalgolai road is being used as an alternative road for two-wheelers as it is a long route.

The road separates from Tilkeni of Ilam municipality-8 along the Mechi highway and connects to Silpur of Godak, Ilam municipality-10.