Kathmandu, November 6
Department of Roads Director General Dr Bijaya Jaishi has said that indiscriminately installing Bailey bridges in areas vulnerable to floods and landslides could be dangerous.
He made the remarks at a meeting of the parliamentary special committee on the impact of climate change in the Himalayas and the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli disaster held on Friday.
Informing the committee about the technical challenges involved in constructing and managing Bailey bridges, he said, “We should not rush to install Bailey bridges. Rather than installing them at multiple locations, improving the approach roads to existing bridges would be a safer and more sustainable long-term solution. Otherwise, monsoon floods are certain to wash away these structures.”
According to Director General Jaishi, constructing Bailey bridges requires strong foundations and a high level of technical caution to ensure their safety.
Citing the Rasuwagadhi border point as an example, he said that constructing Bailey bridges involves substantial costs and takes considerable time. He also pointed out that such temporary structures must be dismantled before the monsoon begins, creating additional financial burdens and technical complications.
He said the department had been carrying out emergency work even in violation of established procedures and without assured budget allocations.
“We resolved the problems involving the Maldhunga and Arughat bridges despite a lack of budget. However, if we decide to install Bailey bridges now, we will also have to take responsibility for the potential disasters that could result,” Dr Jaishi said.
