KAILALI: Crowds of domestic tourists have surged following the construction of a suspension bridge over the Karnali River in Daulatpur, which connects Tikapur Municipality in Kailali with Rajapur Municipality in Bardiya.

Movement on the bridge commenced just a few days ago after its construction was completed. Since then, crowds of domestic tourists have been flocking to the site to enjoy the cool breeze and admire the scenic beauty of the Karnali River and its surrounding plains.

“It is very hot right now, so we visit the bridge in the evening for some cool air,” said Kiran Chaudhary from Tikapur-5. “The turnout of visitors here is much higher than anyone expected.”

He added that professional photographers have already started offering their services to people wanting to take photos and create videos on the bridge. “Previously, we used to do photography work at Tikapur Park or the Intake area in Bardiya,” shared Rajesh Chaudhary from Bardiya. “For the past few days, as the influx of tourists visiting this bridge has grown, we are making a handsome income right here and don’t need to go anywhere else.”

Beyond serving as an attraction for domestic tourists, the completion of the bridge has significantly reduced the travel distance between Tikapur in Kailali and Rajapur in Bardiya. The commute has been shortened from approximately 24 kilometers to just 15 kilometers, permanently ending the risky compulsion of traveling by boat.

“Apart from connecting the tourism potential of both districts, it has made commuting highly convenient for local citizens,” stated local resident Prem Prasad Bhandari. “We also expect a rise in domestic tourists at the nearby Tikapur Park due to this bridge. This is anticipated to boost tourism promotion and increase the income of locals.” He expressed confidence that alongside tourism promotion, the daily lives of citizens in the Tikapur and Rajapur areas will become much easier.

Thani Nirman Sewa, the construction company that had a deadline until June 25, 2027, completed the entire project within a year.

Bikram Basnet, the manager of the construction company, informed that the project’s contract was signed on June 25, 2025, and the bridge is now fully operational after the completion of all works.

“The bridge construction is finished, and public movement has begun,” he said. “We are now preparing for the formal handover.”

Preparations had been made to inaugurate the bridge on June 26, but the event was postponed due to various reasons. According to Manager Basnet, the bridge is 482 meters long and was built at a total cost of approximately Rs. 157,395,528.

“Aside from making travel easy, this bridge over the Karnali River has immense potential to become a major tourist attraction,” noted local resident Sundarlal Tharu. “Consequently, we can expect other commercial activities to grow, boosting the income of local residents.”

In a related development, two major bridges have now been completed over the Karnali River in this area. A concrete bridge over the Karnali River at Sankatti, which links Tikapur Municipality to Geruwa Rural Municipality in Bardiya, has also been completed and opened to traffic.