Temporary bridge at Rasuwagadhi will be ready before Dashain, officials say
China begins preparations for bridge construction. Plans for a permanent bridge are also in progress. Work on a Bailey bridge underway at Nepal-China border in Rasuwagadhi, in this recent photo. The looming building is Chinese customs office. Photo: Courtesy of Chandiraj Gelal
After the collapse of the Nepal-China Miteri (friendship) bridge at Rasuwagadhi due to a flash flood on July 9, trade between the two countries has come to a complete halt.
In response to Nepal’s request, China has begun preparations to construct a temporary bridge within two months to restore cross-border connectivity ahead of the upcoming Dashain festival which falls in October this week.
According to Keshav Kumar Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the location for the temporary bridge has been identified slightly upstream from the original bridge site, which was washed away by the swelling Lhende river.
“The site is currently being cleared, and the Chinese side has already informed us about their plans. The bridge will be completed before Dashain [October],” Sharma said.
While the Bailey bridge will serve as a short-term solution, plans for designing and constructing a permanent bridge at the original location are already in progress.
The flood had also severely impacted the customs yard at Timure, sweeping away 68 cargo vehicles and leaving the customs office eerily quiet.
Prior to the incident, the Rasuwagadhi checkpoint facilitated the movement of around 100 cargo trucks daily, according to the Rasuwa Customs Office.
Sharma added that by the time the bridge is operational, the damaged Syaphrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road section will also be widened for two-way traffic. “Currently, the road is only operating one way. We aim to complete the necessary widening before the festive season so that goods can be transported smoothly,” he said.
Although China was awarded the contract to upgrade the 16-kilometre road in 2019, progress had stalled due to the Covid pandemic and other delays. Now, both Nepal and China are jointly assessing costs and the required work for the short-term restoration.
Jitendra Basnet, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, stated that his ministry is actively coordinating efforts with relevant agencies to ensure the bridge and road infrastructure are restored before the festivals.
“The Chinese side is fully engaged, and our ministries are facilitating the necessary steps to ensure goods from China can be imported without obstruction,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Intermodal Transport Development Committee has begun evaluating the damage to the customs yard and leading the cleanup efforts.
Director General of the Department of Roads, Bijay Jaisi, confirmed that road-widening work will begin soon. “China has committed to reconstructing the flood-damaged section as part of its grant. The terrain is challenging, and we will need to build retaining walls along the riverbanks,” he said.
He further added that the road will be upgraded to a two-lane highway, and a joint meeting with Chinese officials will be held shortly to finalise the plans.
The partially damaged road was reopened for one-way traffic 13 days after the flood, but stranded trucks at Timure have yet to resume movement.
China has also reaffirmed its commitment to support Nepal in rebuilding damaged infrastructure. During a recent meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Chen Xiaodong, head of China’s International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the Chinese side pledged technical and financial assistance for the reconstruction of roads, bridges, and customs facilities.
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