KATHMANDU: The design of the new bridge over the Narayani River, connecting Chitwan and Nawalpur, has been approved nearly two and a half years after the contract was awarded. The Roads Department’s Bridge Division approved the design for Nepal’s second cable-stayed bridge.
The contract for the Narayani Bridge was signed on June 2, 2023. As per the agreement, the design was to be finished within one year (by June 2024), with construction to be completed within three years. However, the design approval was delayed by 16 months.
Amit Verma, an engineer from the department’s Bridge Division, confirmed that the design of the Narayani Bridge has been approved. He said the design is special and complex, which caused the delay.
“The design of the cable-stayed bridge to be built in Narayani, Nepal’s second, has been approved. It took time because the design is special and complex,” he told MeroAuto.
The new bridge was designed by a team led by a Chinese professor. Earlier, the construction company had hired Indian experts for the design, but that proposal was rejected by the Bridge Division. The company then commissioned the Chinese team to prepare a new design.
Engineer Verma said the bridge will serve as an alternative to the existing one built in 1981. With the design now approved, construction will begin soon. The project cost is Rs. 1.68 billion (including VAT). Tundi Construction Pvt. Ltd. has been awarded the contract.
Bridge design and features
Engineer Verma shared that the new bridge will be 420 meters long. It will have four pillars, two in the river and one on each bank. The distance between each side pillar and the central pillars will be 100 meters, while the distance between the two central pillars will be 220 meters.
The total width of the bridge is 13.6 meters. It will have two vehicle lanes spanning 7.5 meters, a 3-meter combined footpath and cycle lane, and the remaining 3 meters will include the median and structural components. This will be the second cable-stayed bridge in Nepal after the Karnali Bridge.
The bridge will feature decorative lighting to enhance its appearance at night and attract tourists.
Designed to last 200 years
Engineer Verma said the bridge is designed to last around 200 years. It takes into account the changing flood patterns of the Narayani River and is built to withstand extreme floods. “Normal bridges are designed for a 100-year lifespan. This bridge, being special, is projected to last about 200 years with regular maintenance,” he said.
The design also anticipates future plans for river navigation, ensuring the bridge will not obstruct ship movement.
Construction schedule and delays
Construction is expected to begin by November. Engineer Verma said the contractor is preparing the site and conducting soil and pile tests. Although the foundation stone was laid on May 13, 2024, construction was delayed due to the design approval process.
Despite not having started construction, the contractor has now requested a deadline extension. The original deadline was four years, but with more than half the time lost in design approval, only about one and a half years remain.
Engineer Verma confirmed that the extension process has begun at the Road Division in Nawalpur. “Once the proposal reaches the department, we will review it and decide accordingly,” he said.
Cost remains fixed
Despite the delay and extension request, Engineer Verma clarified that the project cost will not increase. The bridge is being built under a “design and build” model, which means the contractor covers all costs from design to construction. Even if the design changes, the government will not bear extra expenses.
