By Our Correspondent
Hetauda, Jan. 12: A bridge over the Bagmati River connecting Makwanpur and Sindhuli districts is expected to be completed by mid-April 2022.
Construction of the 413-metre bridge at the Hetaunda-Chatara-Dharan road section of Madan Bhandari Highway is now at the final stage.

Chief Minister of Bagmati Province Rajendra Prasad Pandey on Tuesday observed the bridge under construction at the MB Highway, a national pride project. The bridge connects Ward No. 4 of Bagmati Rural Municipality of Makwanpur with Ward No. 3 of Hariharpurgadhi Rural Municipality of Sindhuli.

CM Pandey reached the site following compliant that the construction of the bridge was delayed. Stating that the delay in the construction of the bridge has delayed various development works in the area, he directed the construction company and staff of MB Highway Project to complete the work at the earliest.
He said that the bridge will facilitate the residents of Makwanpur and Sindhuli to make movements across the river easily. He also pledged the support in creating embankment in the river to save the settlements.

The construction company, Swachchhand Construction Services Pvt. Ltd., had expedited the construction work after the government directed it to complete the national pride project at the earliest.
Rajendra Prasad Das, Chief of Planning at the Madan Bhandari Highway Project Office, Hetauda-Sindhuli section, said that the physical progress of the construction of the Bagmati Bridge is more than 90 per cent. He informed that the slab culvert, painting on the railing of the bridge and blacktopping of the bridge and access road are yet to be completed.

The construction company has been saying that the bridge couldn't be completed in time due to Madhes movement, earthquake and lockdowns.
The construction company had signed a contract worth Rs. 235.39 million to complete the bridge in five years.
The construction of the bridge, which has been extended for the sixth time, is again extended till April 12, 2022.

Managing Director of the construction company Jayaram Lamichhane said that the construction of the bridge was delayed due to the need to change the design, failure of the other parties responsible for the construction and technical complications.

The physical progress of the construction of the bridge has been more than 97 per cent, he said.