Passengers traveling on the Bhairahawa-Lumbini road section have been greatly inconvenienced by the dilapidated bridges at Tinau and Dandapul. The single-lane bridges cannot hold the flow of vehicles due to which passengers get stuck in traffic jams along the Postal Highway for hours on end.  

The construction works of the two bridges, which started five years ago, have been left in a limbo. The contractor company stopped the construction works over a dispute regarding a diversion issue.

Local tourism entrepreneurs have demanded the authorities to complete the construction works soon.

“Tourism activities in Lumbini have been affected due to the delay in the construction of these bridges,” said Sanjaya Bajimaya of the Association of Travel Agent.

Pappu and Bagmati Joint Venture had got the contract to complete the construction works by January 8, 2017. When it could not complete the work in time, the contract deadline was extended to July 7, 2018, but the construction works of both the bridges are yet to be completed.

“We have informed the contractor company to take action,” said Ashok Tiwari, director of the Postal Highway Project.

However, Bikash Jha, director of Pappu and Bagmati JV, said that they had agreed to construct the bridges only.

“The construction of a diversion was not included in the contract. Though a variation order was submitted a year ago, the decision to construct a diversion has not been made,” said Jha.

Every day, more than 7,000 vehicles ply the Bhairahawa-Lumbini road section. Fifty percent of the construction works of Tinau bridge is complete, whereas only 35 percent of the Danab bridge in Dandapul has been completed till date.

Meghraj Marasini, chief of the Butwal Division Road Office, said that the contractor company demanded a large budget to construct a diversion.

“We are unable to pay the money as demanded by the contractor company,” said Marasini, informing that they will blacklist the contractor if it does not start construction works within a week’s time.