Excessive foot traffic and motorcycle crossings have put the suspension bridge over the Narayani River in Susta Rural Municipality-5, West Nawalparasi, at risk.

The bridge, designed to accommodate limited daily traffic, is now deteriorating due to overuse, said Adam Khan, Vice-Chair of the Susta Conservation Campaign. “The bridge has weakened because of the excessive number of pedestrians and motorcycles using it daily,” he said, adding that insufficient monitoring by the authorities has worsened the situation.

While the bridge attracts a large number of domestic tourists who come to enjoy the scenic beauty of the river and its surroundings, it has recently gained popularity among Indian visitors as well.

Tek Narayan Upadhyay, Chairperson of Susta Rural Municipality, said the municipality has deployed municipal police to oversee the bridge’s maintenance. 

However, efforts to manage and maintain the bridge have faced setbacks. According to Humlal Bhusal, Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality, a tender was issued last year for a 15-month management contract, but no bids were received. “We are preparing to call for bids again,” he said.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 230 million, the suspension bridge spans 1,571 meters in length and 1.6 meters in width.

RSS