By Our Correspondent
Surkhet, Feb. 13: The construction of a bridge connecting Karnali and Sudurpaschim is in progress over Karnali River.
The bridge is being constructed to connect Ghatgau of Chaukune Rural Municipality of West Surkhet and Mohanyal Rural Municipality of Kailali. Around 70 per cent of the work of a 550-metre long bridge and 90 per cent of 350-metre long bridge of Kuineghat has been completed. The construction of both the bridges will be completed by the end of this fiscal year.

According to Dinesh Kumar Shrestha, site in-charge of the project, the construction work is going on in full swing to complete within the designated time.
After the completion of the bridge construction, Karnali and Suhurpaschim Provinces will connect directly. Now, the commuters have to reach Chisapani of Karnali via Kohalpur from Surkhet to reach Sudurpaschim Province.
According to the agreement, the construction of bridge was to be completed within 2014/15 fiscal year. It took two years to approve the design of the bridge, said Shrestha. The COVID-19 also delayed the construction work, he added. An estimated cost of Rs. 320 million will be required for the construction of the bridge.

Similarly, in 2016, an agreement was made for the construction of Chipleghat bridge at a cost of Rs. 600 million, said in-charge Shrestha.
Now, there is a suspension bridge at both of the places. With the construction of both bridges, direct contact will be possible among locals of both provinces. Range Kami, a local of Chimleghat said that it will be easy to reach Chisapani of Kailali after operating the bridge.

Kalauri Majhi, a local of Mohanyal Rural Municipality of Kailali, shared that it will be easy to reach another province and will be easy to do developmental work.
The bridge will be development effort to connect Surkhet of Karnali Province and Kailali of Sudurpaschim Province, said Khagendra Prasad Rijal, Chief District Officer of Surkhet.