Government plans Rs 43 billion bridge to replace Koshi Barrage

The Department of Roads has unveiled plans to construct a new three-kilometer bridge across the Saptakoshi River, intended to serve as a long-term alternative to the aging Koshi Barrage. This infrastructure project, which connects Kanchanpur in Saptari to Rajabas in Sunsari, is estimated to cost Rs 43 billion. According to the Department of Roads Project Directorate, the initiative is supported by the Asian Development Bank, a multilateral institution focused on regional infrastructure. In addition to the bridge, the project includes building 43 kilometers of new road, a development expected to shorten the East-West Highway route by 14 kilometers and improve traffic flow in eastern Nepal.

Authorities are currently finalizing the necessary technical and procedural requirements to commence construction. This phase involves securing essential environmental and legal clearances, a complex process given the site’s proximity to the protected Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Officials emphasize that current efforts remain focused on these preparatory steps to address the structural limitations of the existing barrage.