KANCHANPUR: Ninety percent of the construction work on the bridge over the Doda River in Kanchanpur has been completed.

According to Harish Prasad Joshi, the Information Officer of the Division Road Office, Mahendranagar, construction is ongoing with the goal of finishing the bridge by the end of Mid-January 2026.

Joshi reported that the bridge’s superstructure is complete, and the focus is now on building retaining walls on both ends and carrying out earth-filling work.

The total estimated cost for the bridge was Rs 24O million. The contract was awarded to Lumbini–Rajendra–Kumar–Shrestha JV for Rs 240 million.

Although the initial contract was signed on January 10, 2016, with a three-year completion deadline, delays by the contractor have prevented timely completion.

Joshi expressed concern that while the deadline has been extended to mid-January 2026, only Rs 4 million has been allocated for the bridge in the current fiscal year.

He stated that an additional Rs 40 million is required to fully complete the project. Without the bridge, local residents have been forced to cross the river at great personal risk.

Local resident Bachchan Rana noted that the completed bridge will significantly ease travel for the people of Lajhadi, Shuklaphanta, and Krishnapur.