KATHMANDU: Over 450 bridges at different places including major highways of the country are at risk of collapse.
It is riskier to run vehicles on 461 bridges due to earthquake, floods and landslides, according to Bridge Division under the Department of Roads (DoR). Risk is increasing because of delay to repair on time.
There are more than 2,000 bridges along the major highways and other sectors in the country. The earthquake of 2015 damaged 261 bridges of 32 districts. Repairing of these roads is yet to be completed. National Reconstruction Authority claims that repairing is going on but there is no substantial progress in the field.
A total of 200 bridges are damaged due to floods and landslides. The stakeholders have warned of serious casualties if they are not immediately repaired.
Arjun Jung Thapa, deputy director at Bridge Division, said, “We are on the process to repair all bridges. We are on the process to call biddings and finalize contracts for it.”
According to Thapa, the bridges are on verge of collapse due to natural and men-induced disasters including over exploitation of river products. The repairing of bridges has not taken place necessarily. The foundations of bridges are also weak, he said.
Tenders worth Rs 500 million in 13 packages
According to the Bridge Division, tenders worth Rs 500 million are being prepared to award in 13 packages to repair the bridges across the country. Rs 500 million funded by World Bank have been allocated for the purpose, said Thapa. “Tenders worth Rs 150 million have been already awarded.”
However, the bridges are at risk due to lack of conservation and management, said the experts. “The old bridges are left without repairmen, which has caused danger to the people walking on them,” they said. “On the other hand, the overloaded vehicles are allowed to move the bridges, threatening their capacity.”
Troubles due to lack of bridge repair
If bridge facilities are available, crossing rivers and streams is easier without risk. But the people are forced to ferry boats or use other means to cross the rivers.
In this summer, the movement was halted for days after Gerkhu stream swept away the bridge while the people faced troubles after the floods swept away bridge in Sindhupalchowk.
The ordinary people also complained of troubles and risks faced by them while travelling on the East-West Highway.
