Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has clarified that it has no immediate plans to construct a new bridge to connect Siraha and Dhanusha along the Kamala River section of the Postal Highway.
This announcement comes despite a persistent five-year struggle by local residents who demand a completely new structure following the collapse of the nearly finished bridge in 2021. The tension has escalated recently as locals from both districts have begun daily picketing of district administration offices and the provincial government headquarters in Janakpur, frustrated that the newly unveiled budget for the fiscal year 2026/27 failed to address their demands for a new project.
While the community argues that a repaired structure will never be safe or reliable, federal authorities have stood firm on their policy of “restoration and rehabilitation.” According to officials from the Postal Highway Directorate, the primary objective is to bring the existing bridge back into operation rather than starting from scratch.
Kuber Nepali, the Project Director of the Postal Highway Directorate, explained that the government is currently working at a rapid pace to restore the bridge to its original design and capacity. He emphasized that the damaged, sunken, and broken sections are being reconstructed with structural enhancements rather than building an entirely separate bridge nearby.
Technically, the restoration project is utilizing “light structure” technology to improve safety and longevity. Unlike the original heavy cement slabs, engineers are now employing steel structures for the upper sections to significantly reduce the bridge’s self-weight while maintaining load-bearing integrity.
The Directorate expects to complete the superstructure work by mid-July and fully open the bridge for traffic immediately after the monsoon season concludes. Officials noted that while two spans were initially planned for the Siraha section, this has been increased to three to ensure better stability, and river control measures are being implemented to protect the foundation.
The government’s refusal to initiate a new project is also rooted in legal and contractual obligations. Under the current agreement, once the repairs are completed and the bridge is handed over, the contractor enters a five-year “Defect Liability Period.” During this half-decade window, the contractor is legally and financially responsible for all maintenance and technical issues. Project Director Nepali stated that the federal government could only consider a new bridge if the restored structure becomes technically unserviceable after this five-year period expires. For now, the focus remains on making the current investment viable for the public.
The Kamala Bridge is widely regarded as the “lifeline” of the Terai-Madhesh region, serving as a vital National Pride Project that provides the shortest land route to the provincial capital, Janakpur. The lack of a reliable crossing has forced residents of Siraha and Saptari to endure high-risk boat travels across the river or take a gruelling three-hour detour via the Mahendra Highway to reach Janakpur—a journey that should take only thirty minutes.
Locals remain sceptical of the restoration, recalling how the original bridge, which took a decade to build, collapsed during a flood on July 1, 2021, even before it was officially inaugurated.
The history of the project is marred by delays and contractor negligence. The original contract was signed in 2011 with a three-year deadline, but the project languished for years under Pappu Construction, which was eventually blacklisted. Lumbini Builders subsequently took over the remaining work.
For the upcoming fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 4.65 billion for the Postal Highway project nationwide, which includes the management of dozens of bridges. While the government views the Kamala Bridge restoration as a major milestone nearing completion, the local population remains in a state of protest, feeling neglected by a federal budget that favours repairs over a permanent, new solution.
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