The prolonged delay in completing the Kankai Bridge has compelled residents of Jhapa to rely on unsafe and costly alternatives to cross the Kankai River.
During winter, a bamboo bridge is installed temporarily, allowing the movement of pedestrians and motorcycles. Motorcyclists are charged Rs 50 per trip, while pedestrians pay Rs 20. In the monsoon, the Gauriganj Rural Municipality allocates funds for boat services.
Kartik Lal Rajbanshi, Ward Chair of Gauriganj Rural Municipality-1, told the state-owned news agency RSS that Rs 230,000 was allocated last monsoon for temporary solutions.
Contractor Ishwar Majhi, responsible for the makeshift arrangements, noted that the bamboo bridge has become a critical connection for commuters. However, protests against the fee collection have led the municipality to discuss making the bridge free for all users.
The Kankai Bridge, designed to connect Jhapa Rural Municipality-2 and Gauriganj Rural Municipality-1 along the eastern stretch of the Postal Highway, has remained incomplete for 13 years. This delay has caused significant hardship for locals and negatively impacted trade, business, and tourism in the region.
According to the Postal Highway Directorate, Project Office, Itahari, the contract was awarded in June 2011 with a four-year deadline. Despite five deadline extensions, the project has only achieved 58% physical progress.
Engineer Prabhat Kiran Rai, Information Officer at the Itahari Office, confirmed to RSS that the latest deadline extension expired in June 2023.
Technical issues identified during construction led to a review by experts from Pulchowk Engineering Campus. Despite receiving recommendations to resolve these issues, the contractor has failed to resume work, prompting preparations to cancel the contract and initiate a new tender process.
Lakhi Kumari Ganesh, a Koshi Provincial Assembly member representing the area, stressed the need for urgent resolution. Despite interventions from officials, including the Chief Minister, progress remains stalled. Ganesh highlighted that discrepancies in the cost estimate contributed to the delays but insisted the project should be completed under the current contract to avoid further delays.
Frustration among locals is growing.
“Thirteen years, multiple governments, and countless promises later, the bridge is still unfinished,” lamented Tanka Prasad Shrestha, a resident of Gauriganj-1. “The construction company has even removed its equipment from the site.”
Himal Kumar Chamlagain, Ward Chair of Jhapa Rural Municipality-2, underscored the potential benefits of completing the bridge, emphasizing its importance for improving daily life and connectivity for locals.
RSS
