KHOTANG, March 25: Petty contractor to build Sapsu Bridge of Khotang has been changed as the project could not be completed even 15 months after the construction deadline expired.
Upon completion, the bridge will connect Laphyang of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality and Mattim of Sakela Rural Municipality in the district.
Gajurmukhi Harihari Nirman Sewa JV had bagged the contract to build the bridge on December 7, 2016 with construction deadline of 18 months. But it could erect only a pillar on Laphyang side over the past three years. This compelled local authorities to press the contract to change its petty contractor.
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Gajurmukhi Harihari Nirman Sewa JV has now terminated contract with Shyam Pokharel and awarded the project to another petty contractor Suraj Basnet of Dobhan Nirwan Sewa. The new petty contractor has already begun work to erect a pillar in Mattim side.
Arjun Khadka, chairperson of Sakela Rural Municipality, said that the new petty contractor has been given until mid-July to complete the project.
"The main contractor has changed its petty contractor following mounting pressure from the two local units," Khadka said. "The pace of work seems satisfactory now. If the bridge is not completed by then, vehicular movement between the two local units will be affected in the rainy season."
The Department of Local Infrastructure Development and Agricultural Roads (DoLIDAR) has allocated Rs 23 million for construction of the bridge which was to be completed by October, 2017. Accepting the contract, Shyam Pokharel had said that he will complete construction within 7 months.
Dissatisfied with work performance, Lawmaker Bishal Bhattarai had made a written request to the Ministry of Home Affairs to blacklist Gajurmukhi Harihari Nirman Sewa JV. District Administration Office Khotang had also included the joint venture in the list of non-performing contractors and forwarded it to the home ministry for needful action.
Lawmaker Bhattarai had laid foundation stone for the bridge.
Sapsu Bridge, which is on the road from Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality to Sakela Rural Municipality, Diprung Chuichumma Rural Municipality and Khotehang Rural Municipality, is regarded as a pride of Khotang district.
The Diktel-Khotang Bazaar road is becoming of no use due to delay in construction of Sapsu bridge. The 74-kilometer green road was constructed by Rural Access Program funded by the British government.
