By Our Correspondent
Birtamod, Jan. 3: It has been a decade years since the construction of a concrete bridge over the Biring River connecting Bahradashi Rural Municipality and Jhapa Municipality started.
But the locals, especially those from Rajgadh and Panthapara are still forced to cross the river via a bamboo bridge.

The locals pay Rs. 10 per head to cross the bamboo bridge on foot. Similarly, Rs. 20 is charged for a cycle and Rs. 100 for a motorcycle. The amount is collected by the contractor.
The bridge was expected to be completed within four years. But even 10 years later, that has not materialised.

In April, 2011, the bridge construction was awarded to Kathamndu-based Lama Mainachuli JV under a budget of Rs. 155 million to construct the 319m-long bridge.
The tenure has been extended several times, but the work has yet to be started.
The work on postal highway nearby the bridge’s construction site is in full pace but the people still need to cross the river via a bamboo bridge.

After a long time, a span of the bridge was plastered last year. However, citing COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown and heavy rains, the work is moving at a snail’s pace.
The authorities informed that the bridge would be constructed within two years but the locals do not believe it.

“We have called the attention of the government and the contractor several times – but to no avail,” said Jay Narayan Sah, Jhapa Rural Municipality chairman.
Around half a dozen bridge joins the postal highway in Jhapa. Most of them are in sorry condition.