Saptari. As an alternative to the Koshi Barrage bridge connecting Saptari and Sunsari districts, a new three-kilometer long bridge will be constructed from Kanchanpur in Saptari to Rajabas in Sunsari.
According to Chudaraj Dhakal, director of Road Department Project Directorate, the estimated cost of the bridge to be constructed is Rs 43 billion based on a detailed project report prepared a few years ago.
The bridge, which will be built with the help of the Asian Development Bank, will reduce the distance traveled by 14 km on the East-West highway.
Director Dhakal said, “Now the necessary technical preparations are being made for the construction of new bridges and roads.” Under that project, 43 kilometers of new roads will be constructed along with bridges of special nature. At present, the necessary procedural work for the construction of the overall structure of the bridge and road is progressing.
As the project area is connected to Koshitappu Wildlife Sanctuary, the work is being done due to some environmental and legal clearance issues. Due to the aging of the Koshi Barrage and increasing traffic, the proposed alternative route will prove to be important in the operation and management of transport in the eastern region of Nepal.