Residents of ward 5 in Dharan Sub-metropolis have been risking their lives every monsoon to cross the Leduwa stream, as the long-promised bridge remains incomplete after five years.

Despite repeated deadline extensions, only 64 percent work has been completed since the project began in July 2020. The bridge was supposed to be completed by July 2021 under a Rs12.1 million contract with World Trade Construction Company.

However, repeated delays and disputes have left the project stalled. Locals of both ward 5 and 4 of Dharan rely on this bridge for education, health care, and agricultural trade.

“We sometimes have to use makeshift bamboo crossings during floods to take patients to hospitals,” said local resident Raj Kumar Rai.

Parents say their children risk their lives daily to attend schools in Dharan as the only local school runs classes up to grade 5. At least 57 children from villages like Mantar, Sumantar, Muktilal and Nishandanda cross the stream to continue their studies.

Locals say vegetable and dairy supplies also remain stuck on the stream’s far side during heavy rains, worsening economic hardship.

Physical Infrastructure Minister of Koshi province Bhupendra Rai inspected the site five months ago, ordering swift completion. The contractor resumed work briefly, but progress halted again.

Rai said the government moved to terminate the contract and confiscate the security deposit, but the construction company obtained a court stay order, stalling the process.