Syangja, August 24
A motorable truss bridge over the Kaligandaki River, connecting Chapakot Municipality-8 (Damachaur) in Syangja and Rampur Municipality-6 in Palpa, linking Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, has been completed. The project, which was originally targeted for completion within three years, took 15 years due to various technical problems.
According to the Road Division Office, Palpa, a construction agreement worth NPR 15,68,13,266 was signed with MS Elite ASBA JV, Kapan, Kathmandu, on July 10, 2011. The three-span bridge is 181.69 meters long and 11 meters wide.
Construction initially began based on a well-foundation design. Although pillars were completed on both riverbanks, work stalled after problems arose while building the middle pillar.
The design required the well foundation to reach a depth of 15 meters, but bedrock was encountered at around five meters, making construction as per the original design impossible, leading the construction company to halt work.
Later, in 2021, the Bridge Department decided to change the old design, replacing the well foundation with a pile foundation. Once the new design was approved, the same construction company was reassigned the work, after which construction picked up pace.
According to Pabitra Mani Acharya, officiating chief of the Road Division Office, Palpa, although the construction company had been granted an eighth deadline extension until Shrawan 30, the bridge construction has now been completed.
He said the design change increased the project cost by 22.05%. Originally targeted for completion in three years, the bridge — finished in 15- now has a total cost (including VAT) of NPR 21,62,61,368.
Shyam KC, a representative of the construction company, claimed that the long halt caused by the failed initial design led to losses of around NPR 70 million for the company.
Once operational, the bridge is expected to ease travel between Syangja and Palpa. It is also expected to serve as important infrastructure for the route from India through the Jhyagdi Khola corridor to the Andhikhola corridor, Parbat, and Muktinath, as well as for expanding connectivity with China to the north.
