Kathmandu: The process to build a new network arch bridge over the Bagmati River in Tinkune, Kathmandu, has officially begun, marking a major step toward easing chronic traffic congestion in the federal capital.
The new structure, located in Subidhanagar, Tinkune, will mirror the distinctive arch bridge in Bijulibazar along the Maitighar–Baneshwor road section and is being implemented under the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project of the Department of Roads.
Although the surrounding road at Tinkune was expanded to eight lanes with service roads more than a decade ago, the narrow bridge remained a bottleneck, forcing commuters to endure severe traffic jams for the past 11 years. The congestion is particularly acute during morning and evening peak hours, as the bridge serves vehicles traveling between Bhaktapur, Koteshwor, Baneshwor, and Gaushala.
The previous contractor, Pappu Construction, had left the project incomplete after building substandard structures that failed to meet design specifications. Following repeated warnings and quality concerns, the government terminated the contract and blacklisted the company in 2019. While the similar arch bridge in Bijulibazar was completed and has been operational for six years, the Tinkune section remained stalled.
After years of legal, technical, and procedural hurdles, including soil testing, preparation of a detailed project report, redesign, third-party verification, and amendments to public procurement regulations, the Department of Roads signed a new contract on August 26, 2022, with YP-Kirateshwar JV under a “design and build” model.
The contract was valued at Rs 245.97 million excluding VAT and contingencies, and Rs 393.55 million including them. Although the original completion deadline was set for 42 months (February 2026), bureaucratic delays meant that a formal work order was only issued on November 9 last year, effectively consuming the initial timeline. The contractor has now requested a three-year extension, and authorities are preparing to approve the revised schedule.
Construction has begun with the demolition of the old, defective structure. The new bridge will rest on 40 piles, each 1.02 metres in diameter and 36 metres deep. The network arch bridge will span 85 meters in length. On both sides of the existing bridge, new 16.4-metre-wide structures will be added, with 12-meter-wide carriageways for vehicles, while the old bridge will remain in place. The design also includes two-meter-wide footpaths for pedestrians. The arch structure will rise 15.75 meters high, with a 1.2-meter circular upper beam, and will use pile and pile-cap foundation technology.
Officials say the prolonged delay, nearly three years just to complete re-tendering and approvals, highlights systemic challenges in Nepal’s public procurement process. With the work order finally in place, authorities have instructed the contractor to proceed alongside the deadline extension process, raising hopes that one of Kathmandu’s most persistent traffic bottlenecks may finally be resolved.
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