BANKE: Congested bridges along the Nepalgunj-Gularia Postal Highway are to be expanded to four lanes.

The existing bridges with two lanes are being widened to level up the four-lane road. Once bridges according to the four-lane road are constructed, traffic movement will turn easier, said Leela Bahadur Bhandari, Chief of the Postal Highway Directorate Planning Office, Nepalgunj.

Construction of four-lane bridges has begun at Kiran Nala in Khajura, Banke and Janaki Rural Municipality, and Chapala Nala in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality of Bardiya, along the Nepalgunj-Gularia road.

The bridge construction at Kiran Nala has started at an estimated cost of around Rs 45 million. Since the two-lane bridge that was constructed a few years ago has become narrow, construction of another two-lane bridge has commenced at the same location.

The old two-lane bridge will be retained and a new two-lane structure will be installed. Construction is ongoing aiming to complete the bridge by mid-June, informed Planning Chief Bhandari.

Similarly, the bridge will also be constructed to four lanes at Chapala Nala in Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality of Bardiya.

Construction of the four-lane bridge has been completed in Khajura Rural Municipality-3, Pedari Nala under the Nepalgunj-Gularia Postal Highway ahead of schedule.