February 23, Kathmandu- On average, two suspension bridges are being constructed daily in different parts of the country. This number of suspension bridges is being constructed from the federal, provincial, and local levels.
The government has set a target of constructing 600 suspension bridges in the current fiscal year. Among these, the federal government will have to build 90 bridges, the provincial government 16, and the local level 494 bridges.

Among these, suspension bridges to be constructed at all three levels, 221 have been completed by last January. The remaining 379 suspension bridges are under construction, according to the Department of Local Infrastructure under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.

Out of the 600 suspension bridges to be constructed this year, 190 have been constructed by the local level and 30 by the federal government. The spokesperson of the department Ashok Kumar Sah informed that all the bridges to be constructed by the state government are under construction. Assessing the condition of the bridges constructed at all three levels across the country, two suspension bridges have been constructed at the rate of two days, ”he added. As of January, 19 bridges have been completed at the local level, including 19 in Province 1, 6 in Province 2, 25 in Bagmati, 62 in Gandaki, 24 in Lumbini, 31 in Karnali, and 23 in the Far West. Similarly, the federal government has constructed 24 suspension bridges.

Similarly, out of 90 bridges to be constructed by the federal government this year, seven suspension bridges have been completed in Province 1, five in Bagmati, 12 in Gandaki, two in Lumbini, and four in Karnali. The local and provincial governments and the federal government have constructed the bridge at a distance of fewer than 120 meters.

The government had allocated Rs. 5.3 billion for the construction of 600 bridges in the current fiscal year. Till last fiscal year, the construction of 8,552 suspension bridges from all three levels has been completed across the country.
He said that the suspension bridges constructed for the river and Kholsakholsi have provided transportation facilities to the locals and increased access to markets, education, health, administrative services, social and cultural centers.

Director-General of the Department, Ishwar Chandra Marhattha, said that the suspension bridges constructed across the country have increased the access of the locals to social and basic health services, opportunities and resources. "The construction of the suspension bridges across the country has eased the movement of the people who have been traveling hard," he said. "The completed suspension bridges have added a new dimension of development to the village."