Kathmandu: Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, has announced that five out of thirteen bridges planned for the Jajarkot-Dolpa section of the Bheri Corridor will be completed within the next two years. This statement was made in response to a question from lawmaker Maya Prasad Sharma during a National Assembly meeting.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Minister assured the Upper House that the bridges over the Jhimri Khola, Nalagad Stream, Chaukha Stream, Tatra Stream, and Tatu Stream would be constructed within the specified timeframe. YP Construction Pvt. Ltd. was initially contracted in 2068 BS (2011-12) to build the bridge over the Bheri River along the Pushpalal Highway, connecting Rukum West and Jajarkot, with a three-year deadline. However, progress has been limited, with only a single pillar and a few towers constructed to date.
The Minister further explained that the Bheri Corridor, which links Chhinchu to Dolpa, requires thirteen bridges, including one at Pasagad, for the Jajarkot-Dolpa road section. Due to the lack of progress by YP Construction, the contract was terminated, and the company was recommended for blacklisting by the Public Procurement Monitoring Office on November 29, 2014.
The Minister noted that the initial attempt to reassign the contract through bidding failed because the quoted amounts exceeded the estimated costs. The second attempt also did not attract any bidders. Currently, efforts are underway to revise the cost estimations, with the project expected to resume during the fiscal year 2082/83 B.S. (2025/26 A.D.) after successful contract management.