KATHMANDU: A bridge over the Duku stream on the Beni-Darwang road in Myagdi district has been repaired and secured with the support of local hydropower projects.
The bridge, located on the border between Mangala Rural Municipality-2 and Malika Rural Municipality-6, was at high risk of collapse due to severe erosion caused by flooding.
Acting Chief of the District Coordination Committee of Myagdi, Dilkumari Khatri, stated that the maintenance was conducted to ensure continued road connectivity between Beni and the rural municipalities of Malika, Dhaulagiri, and Tamankhola.
She noted that the collaboration with private hydropower developers was sought to expedite the work, as government procurement processes would have caused significant delays.
The repair project was funded by a partnership of six hydropower plants: the 65 MW Myagdi Khola, 37 MW Upper Myagdi, 53.5 MW Upper Myagdi-1, 25 MW Darwang Myagdi Khola, 14 MW Mudi Khola, and 6 MW Dar Khola projects.
Jyoti Kumar KC, head of the Upper Myagdi-1 project, explained that crews successfully secured the structure by diverting the stream, reinforcing the foundation with concrete, and installing gabion walls along the approach road.
Prior to these repairs, the bridge had become unstable, hindering the transport of construction materials and equipment to various project sites. Completed in 2019 at a cost of Rs 20.6 million, the 20-meter-long and 6-meter-wide bridge is now fully operational for all types of vehicles.
