Lawmaker Tulasa Kumari Dahal Calls for New Bridge Over Kamala River After Collapse of Under-Construction Bridge

In a National Assembly meeting today, Lawmaker Tulasa Kumari Dahal urged the government to promptly construct a new bridge over the Kamala River at the same location where an under-construction bridge collapsed. The bridge, located on the Hulaki Highway at the southern border of Dhanusha and Siraha districts in Madhes Province, has been a critical infrastructure project for the region.

During the ‘urgent time’ session, Dahal emphasized the urgent need for a new bridge to alleviate the difficulties faced by approximately two million people due to the collapse of the original under-construction bridge. She also called for an investigation into the reasons behind the collapse, noting that the bridge failure has severely disrupted daily life in the region.

“Ten local youths have been on a hunger strike in front of the Madhes Province Chief Minister’s office since August 20, after repeated appeals from local representatives and residents for the bridge’s construction were ignored,” Dahal stated. “I urge the government to immediately start the construction of a new bridge.”

Dahal highlighted the severe inconvenience caused by the bridge’s collapse, forcing locals to either walk an additional 100 kilometers or travel through Indian territory to cover a mere 30-kilometer distance.

She also informed the Assembly that the original contract for the bridge was signed with Pappu Lumbini Builders and JV Construction in 2068 BS, with a project cost of Rs 249.1 million. The contract stipulated the construction of a 400-meter-long and 11-meter-wide bridge within four years. However, the project has faced numerous delays, with the construction deadline extended multiple times over the past decade.

Following protests by local residents, the Hulaki Road Directorate terminated JV Construction’s involvement, awarding the contract to Lumbini Construction. However, the bridge remained incomplete, and the under-construction structure collapsed in August 2021, rendering it unusable.

Dahal expressed concerns about the bridge’s faulty design and questioned who would be responsible for investigating the collapse. She stressed that the damaged bridge is beyond repair and called for the immediate construction of a new bridge at the site.