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Construction of a suspension bridge over the Triyuga River, linking Ikraha and Shivanagar with the Madan Bhandari Highway in Chaudandigadhi Municipality-10 in Udayapur, has reached its final stage.

The 557-metre-long suspension bridge is being built for Rs. 96.94 under the federal government’s Local Infrastructure Development Programme by the Suspension Bridge Division Office. Thani Nirman Sewa has carried out the construction work.

Local residents, who for years have had to risk their lives crossing the Triyuga River during the monsoon season, say that the days of braving floodwaters at great personal risk will soon be over.

Former Foreign Minister Dr. Narayan Khadka remarked that infrastructure development is the backbone of progress and, although the bridge will resolve one major difficulty faced by local people, he remains committed to seeking further government plans for the overall development of the area.

Approximately 700 households in Ikraha, Khairaha, Shivanagar, Hadiya, Andheri and Musaharniya in Chaudandigadhi Municipality-10 will directly benefit from the bridge.

According to local residents, the absence of a suspension bridge had long caused serious difficulties, particularly for patients, new mothers, schoolchildren travelling to and from school, and those needing to travel to the district headquarters in Gaighat for official work. They say such problems will now be resolved.

According to Lekh Bahadur Basnet, Managing Director of the construction company, tower construction is currently in its final phase, the upper cables have already been installed, and the remaining structural work has been completed.

The company is working at a pace to complete all remaining tasks within a month, after which the bridge will be handed over to the concerned authorities and brought into operation.