15-year-old Kamala Bridge still incomplete; Minister’s visit sparks local anger

KATHMANDU: Siraha–Dhanusha’s long-stalled Kamala Bridge under the Hulaki Highway remains incomplete even after 15 years, continuing to disrupt daily life and transportation in eastern Madhesh.

During a recent field inspection, Minister for Infrastructure Development Sunil Lamsal visited the site along with a monitoring team reviewing major development projects across the region.

Despite repeated oversight—reportedly involving 18 different ministers over the years—the bridge construction has yet to be completed.

Local residents expressed strong dissatisfaction during the visit, accusing authorities of failing to present a clear and time-bound construction plan.

Protesters argued that repeated inspections without concrete progress have only deepened public frustration.

Minister Lamsal assured that the bridge project would no longer face unnecessary delays and emphasized that construction work will not be halted under any circumstances.

He also reviewed several other infrastructure projects during the visit, including segments of the Kakarbhitta–Laukahi road expansion and the 87-kilometer four-lane upgrade plan from Kanchanpur (Saptari) to Kamala (Siraha).

The inspection team further assessed ongoing projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, focusing on ensuring timely completion through improved coordination and monitoring mechanisms.

Earlier, Minister Lamsal had also inspected major road corridors including Butwal and Nagdhunga, directing authorities to complete works within scheduled deadlines.