House panel directs govt to opt for new model on bridges construction

The Development and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives has directed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport to advance the construction of the bridges under the ‘Design and Build’ framework in the future. The directive has been issued arguing that designing itself of many of the under-construction road bridges was faulty,

The Committee has issued the directive to construct the bridges as per the design of the construction entrepreneurs’ engineering teams.

Committee’s meeting held on Monday to discuss the issues of bridges of the strategic roads and other bridges has asked the ministry to gradually replace the old bridges with new ones.

The Committee members have laid emphasis for timely completion of some bridges–if delayed–by managing resources through close coordination with the Finance Ministry and National Planning Commission.

The Committee has also directed the government to submit the details and status report along with the troubleshoot measures on the bridges that have witnessed problems due to problems in design; stranded due to construction entrepreneurs and the ones facing difficulties for beyond capacity.

Committee’s chair Kalyani Kumari Khadka presided over the meeting.