Five new bridges in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU, April 23: Construction of the five new bridges in Kathmandu is set to begin in the ongoing fiscal year after National Planning Commission´s nod. Including the five, the government plans to construct 91 new bridges across the country this year.

The Department of Roads (DoR) says the government has allocated Rs 330 million for the construction of the five bridges.



Due to some misunderstanding, the NPC had delayed permission to start construction of the bridges.

"We well publish tender notices next week," chief of the Bridge Section at DoR, Madhav Karki, said. He added that the construction of all the 91 bridges will start this fiscal year.

The DoR says a new bridge will built over the Bagmati River at Bouddha to link Boudha and Tamraganga roads. Similarly, a new bridge will be constructed over Bagmati River at Sundharighat, Kirtipur. Another bridge will be constructed at Salinahi to connnect Bagmati Bishnumati link road extension. Likewise, a bridge will be built along Sankhu Fatkeshor Road and another over the Bagmati River to connect B P chowk with B P Sangralaya.

"The construction of new bridges in Kathmandu will help us to reduce the current traffic problem," Karki said.

DoR expects to complete the construction of all the bridges within three years.

But the allocated budget is not enough to complete the project. It is just enough to start construction, according to Karki.

Karki revealed that the DoR sought assistance from the World Bank for building the bridges. "We are in the final stage of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of 100 million US dollars," Karki said adding, "The money will be used to construct new bridges, apart from maintenance and feasibility study for more bridges."

He said the World Bank will bear 60 percent of the total costs and remaining 40 percent will be borne by the government. "We are also going to hire a consultant soon to find out the problems in existing bridges," he added.