New bailey bridge installed over Puwa Khola

Ilam: A new Bailey bridge has been installed over the Puwa Khola (River) in Ilam district, restoring regular transport along a key alternative route connecting Ilam headquarters with Birtamod city of Jhapa district.

The bridge, linking Bhangtar in Ilam municipality-9 with Soyak in ward no. 11, came into operation from Sunday following the completion of installation, said Arjun Kumar Ghimire, Information Officer and engineer at the Division Road Office, Ilam.

The bridge has been installed at a cost of over Rs 22 million, funded by the federal government, informed Ghimire. Anisha Bokhi, Account Officer at the Division Road Office, Ilam formally inaugurated the bridge measuring 230 feet in length and 14 feet in width.

The new facility is expected to provide a more reliable connection for residents and travelers using the Mechi Corridor, also known as the Kechana-Kanchanjunga road.

Although supporting structures for the replacement bridge had already been prepared during fiscal year 2025/26, installation was delayed because the bridge components provided as grant assistance by India arrived late.

However, a technical team arriving from India carried out the installation work on Saturday, it was told. The installation of bridge has brought cheers to residents.

“This road has now become an alternative to the Mechi Highway,” gushed Tilak Shrestha of Ilam municipality-11. The previous bailey bridge at the site, installed in fiscal year 2024/25 at a cost of Rs 14.3 million, was swept away by floods on October 4 last year.

Following its destruction, authorities had been relying on a temporary diversion that could only be used reliably during dry weather. The completed bridge is part of the 50-kilometer Kechana-Kanchanjunga (Mechi Corridor) linking Ilam district with Jhapa district.

The route is being developed as an alternative to the Mechi Highway.

In the Ilam section, 15 kilometers of road in Mai municipality have already been blacktopped, while construction is underway on 14 of the remaining 17 kilometers that have been awarded under contracts.

RSS