Kathmandu, November 8
A pontoon bridge, a floating structure designed to carry vehicles across water, is being installed at Furke Khola through a joint initiative of all local governments in Dhading to reconnect the district headquarters with the Prithvi Highway.
According to Bhim Prasad Dhungana, mayor of Nilkantha Municipality, the bridge is being installed as a temporary measure to resume transport services, with all 13 local governments sharing the cost. The pontoon bridge is a temporary arrangement that can operate only during the winter when water levels and river flow are low.
The drums and structural components required for the installation have been transported to Dhading from Rajapur in Bardiya. Of the 33 drums in Rajapur’s pontoon bridge, three had reportedly been swept away by floods earlier. A total of 24 drums have been brought to Dhading.
Mayor Dhungana said the technical inspection found that the bridge could span the river using that number of drums, so the components were transported accordingly.
He said each container could carry only two bridge components. The structure was brought to Dhading after making the necessary payments. The pontoon bridge had previously provided a major service in Rajapur, Bardiya.
Before a permanent bridge was built over the Karnali River at Kothiyaghat, the pontoon bridge provided transport services there. The permanent bridge was inaugurated at the site in Asoj 2071. The pontoon bridge had remained unused and fallen into disrepair since then.
Although its capacity had diminished, technicians found that the structure was still usable, prompting the decision to install it in Dhading, he said. The pontoon bridge had been under the jurisdiction of the Rajapur Irrigation Management Office.
Dhungana said the local governments had obtained recommendations from the Department of Irrigation and the concerned ministry, and preparations for installing the bridge at Furke Khola had reached the final stage.
Installation work will begin the day after Bhai Tika, he said. Repair and painting of the bridge components are currently underway, along with construction of an access road leading to the bridge. On the advice of technicians, light vehicles and vehicles providing essential services will be allowed to cross in the first phase. Heavy vehicles will be tested only afterwards.
The devastating flood of August 26 swept away the bridge over Furke Khola, severing the road link between Dhading district headquarters and the Prithvi Highway. This disrupted transport services to several villages in Dhading and Gorkha.
Although temporary alternatives are currently being used, they have not only caused inconvenience to travellers but also increased prices and prevented local produce from reaching markets.
Mayor Dhungana said local governments had joined hands to arrange a temporary alternative because work on a permanent bridge at Furke Khola had not begun despite the urgent need for one.
He said they would continue to press for the prompt construction of a permanent bridge at the site. The temporary pontoon bridge alone is expected to cost Rs 3 million to Rs 3.5 million.
“Installing a permanent bridge or a Bailey bridge is beyond the capacity of local governments,” he said. “The federal government must therefore take the initiative without delay.”
Pontoon bridge was once a symbol of Bardiya
The pontoon bridge was once a defining feature of Bardiya. It provided transport services across the Geruwa River, connecting different parts of the Rajapur area, for 14 years, from 2056 BS to 2070 BS. The bridge was installed over the river from Kartik to Jestha each year to facilitate transport. Locals regarded it as a blessing for Rajapur.
The bridge was brought to Nepal with a loan of around Rs 70 million from the Asian Development Bank. Built using Chinese technology, it had developed problems such as rusting and holes in some of its drums due to a prolonged lack of maintenance.
Managing the pontoon bridge had also become a challenge for the Rajapur Irrigation Project. With preparations underway to reuse it in Dhading, the bridge is set to return to service after more than a decade.
Photo: Poshanath Adhikari
