Contract Terminated for Kankai Bridge Left Unfinished for More than a Decade

The government has terminated the contract for the long-delayed Kankai Bridge on the Postal Highway after more than a decade of missed deadlines and poor progress.

The 723-metre bridge was meant to connect Jhapa Rural Municipality-2 with Gaurigunj Rural Municipality-1. The contract was awarded in June 2011 with a four-year deadline. Despite five extensions, physical progress has remained below 60 percent, according to the Itahari’s Project Office of the Postal Highway Directorate under the Department of Roads.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, November 27, the office cancelled the contract with Pappu-Mahadev-Khimti Joint Venture. The JV had signed a design-and-build agreement worth Rs 340.9 million, including tax. Its performance guarantee of Rs 17.1 million will be seized.

Project Office Chief Yubaraj Pokharel said the contractor was asked for clarification on October 17 on why the contract should not be terminated, but the response was unsatisfactory. The office then acted under the Public Procurement Act.

The notice states that the contractor failed to complete the work within the given time, did not present a credible revised schedule, did not prepare a realistic plan for resource mobilisation, and did not show any commitment to finish the project. The contractor also failed to ensure the presence of an authorised representative. The office said there was no sign of urgency to resume work. These actions were deemed clear breaches of the contract and the procurement law.

The government will confiscate the performance guarantee and recover any additional costs needed to complete the bridge as government dues. The JV has also been recommended for blacklisting. It has been asked to appear within 15 days for measurement of completed and remaining works. If it does not appear, the office will carry out the measurement itself.

When Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kulman Ghising inspected the site on October 12 locals had demanded immediate completion, saying the delay had hurt daily movement, trade, business and tourism. Minister Ghising later instructed agencies to terminate non-performing contracts.

The contractor said work continued until six years ago. Technical flaws were later detected and confirmed, and some corrective work was done. But, the contract expired two years ago. Although the JV sought another extension under amended procurement rules, the request was rejected because it failed to provide a clear basis for completion.

Of the bridge’s 19 spans, only eight have been completed. Girders have been placed on two of the remaining 11 spans. Foundations have been laid for six spans, while three spans still lack foundations.

The prolonged delay has forced residents of Jhapa to rely on risky and expensive alternatives to cross the Kankai River. In winter, a temporary bamboo bridge is installed for pedestrians and motorcycles. As reported by the state-owned RSS news agency in January, 2025 motorcyclists were charged Rs 50 per trip and pedestrians Rs 20. During the monsoon, Gauriganj Rural Municipality funded boat services to maintain the crossing.