A four-lane concrete bridge has been constructed and is operational on the Mahakali River, connecting Dodhara-Chandani Municipality to the road network and targeting the under-construction dry port.
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Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development, Kulman Ghising, has said that the work of river bank protection (embankment) should be taken forward immediately to protect the four-lane Mahakali Bridge and the surrounding settlements.
During an on-site inspection of the Mahakali Bridge and the area eroded by the river, Minister Ghising pointed out the need to immediately resolve the confusion regarding the construction of the embankment and move forward with the work.
Stating that if the embankment work is not completed before the upcoming rainy season, the bridge and the settlements on the left bank of the Mahakali River may be at risk due to floods in the river, he directed the Road Department and the Mahakali Bridge Project Management to immediately start the embankment management work.
A four-lane concrete bridge has been constructed and is in operation on the Mahakali River to connect Dodhara-Chandani Municipality with the road network and to target the under-construction dry port.
In order to protect the bridge from floods, as per the decision of the Council of Ministers on 6 Jestha 2082, approval was given to have the Nepal Army remove and manage the riverine material accumulated in the middle of the river around the Mahakali Bridge and carry out the necessary temporary river control work for flood-related disaster mitigation. Accordingly, the Army had constructed a temporary structure.
The structures, which were constructed in an emergency keeping in mind the risks of the then rainy season, are of temporary nature and therefore require further strengthening. The temporary structure constructed by the Nepali Army on the upper left bank of the bridge, which is about 300 meters long, needs to be strengthened.
Directing the immediate start of the strengthening work, Minister Ghising expressed his commitment to provide necessary facilitation. The project has also stated that the design for the strengthening work has been prepared.
