Since no permanent bridge has been built over the Kamala river, the locals of Siraha have to risk traveling through temporary bamboo and wooden bridges.
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The concrete bridge across the Kamala river connecting Sirha and Dhanusha districts has been incomplete for 14 years. The 469-meter long bridge, which was started in 2068 with the goal of completion in three years, has not yet been completed, and the local residents are forced to suffer every year.
If the bridge is not built, the locals have to travel dangerously through temporary bamboo or wooden bridges. In the third week of this July, the traffic was stopped after the temporary bamboo bridge was swept away by the flood. Currently, the movement has been made easier by building a wooden structure again, but the risk remains.
Praveen Yadav of Siraha-6 says, 'We have been suffering for years since the bridge was not built. The kathe structure built now is dangerous, but we are forced to walk through that road. Traveling with a motorcycle is more scary, but there is no choice. In that too, passengers are being charged arbitrary fees.
Although the municipality claims to operate free of charge, they have to pay up to 50, he says. He said, "Earlier, Rs. 20 was charged according to the contract agreement, but now even though it is said that it has been removed, in practice the fee has increased even more." There is a double burden on the people, on the one hand, risky travel, and on the other hand, irregular toll collection.' After Pappu Construction was blacklisted, the rest of the work was done by Lumbini Builders. However, after two foundations were swept away by the flood, the company has stopped work for the last one month, showing that the insurance amount of eight crores was not received for the necessary repairs.
According to Engineer Ranjit Kumar Rai, Information Officer of Postal Highway Directorate Planning Office, Janakpur, the process of blacklisting Lumbini Builders has also been initiated as the construction company has stopped the work within the specified period.
According to Indrajit Yadav, Ward President of Sirha-6, since there is no bridge, pedestrians have to climb the bamboo ladder or cross the river by boat during the flood. As the bridge over the Kamala River remains incomplete, the rainy season every year has become a challenge for the locals.
