The Long Wait for a New Bridge
In the remote region of Bardiya, construction of a new bridge over the Babai River has been stalled for years. This bridge is intended to connect Gulariya and Barbardiya municipalities, but its completion remains uncertain due to a lack of budget approval. The previous bridge, which was swept away by floods eight years ago, left more than 150,000 residents in a state of mobility crisis.
The loss of the bridge disrupted daily life for many, forcing people to rely on makeshift wooden structures and boats to cross the river. Despite a proposal for budget approval being submitted two years ago, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission have yet to act, causing the project to remain in limbo.
Narendra Prasad Bhatta, chief of the Division Road Office in Nepalgunj, mentioned that the proposal was canceled last fiscal year due to insufficient budget consent. “We have resubmitted the file through the Department of Roads. Construction will begin once approval is granted,” he said.
However, department officials appear unaware of the matter. Engineer Shyam Bahadur Khadka, the department’s information officer, stated that the file was sent to the ministry and remains pending there. This lack of communication has only added to the frustration of local residents.
A History of Disappointment
The previous bridge, constructed at Jabdighat in Bardiya, collapsed before it could be handed over. Pappu Construction, the company responsible for the Rs167.8 million project, completed the structure in 2017. However, the bridge sank in August of the same year. Another flood in October 2022 completely halted movement across the river, further worsening the situation.
The Division Road Office terminated the contract with Pappu Construction five years after the collapse. This incident highlights the challenges faced in ensuring the durability of infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
Without a functional bridge, residents have had to rely on temporary solutions. Locals claim that successive ministers and lawmakers have made promises to rebuild the bridge but failed to take action. These broken promises have led to growing frustration among the community.
Infrastructure Challenges
A 23-km blacktopped road from Rammapur along the East-West Highway to Rajanbas in Gulariya was completed five years ago. However, without the bridge, transport links between the two municipalities remain cut off. This has significantly impacted trade and travel, affecting the livelihoods of many in the area.
Former Barbardiya mayor Durga Bahadur Tharu emphasized that about 150,000 people in the region are suffering due to the prolonged delay. In May 2023, lawmaker Sanjay Gautam staged an eight-day hunger strike demanding the construction of the bridge. Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala signed a written agreement to call a tender within a month, but this commitment remains unfulfilled.
Future Plans and Hope
Despite these challenges, the Division Road Office has prepared an estimate of Rs1.19 billion for a new 400-metre-long bridge. This new structure is planned to be built 500 metres north of the collapsed structure. The project aims to provide a permanent solution to the mobility issues faced by the residents.
While the delay has caused significant hardship, the hope remains that the necessary approvals will soon be granted. Once the budget is approved, construction can begin, bringing much-needed relief to the communities that have waited for years for a stable connection across the Babai River.