Vehicles are not permitted to use Mugu’s ready bridge
A concrete motorable bridge over the Gamghat Alkhasangu River in Mugu district, completed three months ago, is still not accessible to vehicles. Locals are frustrated and have started complaining about the lack of access to the bridge. Jay Bahadur Malla, a local from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-1, stated that both two-wheelers and four-wheelers are not allowed to pass through the bridge, resulting in high fares for passengers. Landowner Dhan Bahadur Malla from Chhayanath Rara Municipality-1 has demanded that the bridge be operational soon, especially during the rainy season, to ensure public convenience. The municipality agreed to compensate Malla twice for the land, using 588.75 square meters of his cultivable land for the construction. However, Malla has started farming in the eastern end of the bridge, claiming he has not received the agreed compensation.
Chhayanath Rara Municipality is preparing to allocate funds from the Disaster Management Fund to provide cash relief and bring the bridge back into operation. The municipality has coordinated with the contractor and landowner and sent necessary documents to the Road Department for compensation. However, the Jumla Road Division Office denied compensation for private land, citing a nationwide precedent. Devotees heading to Chhayanath Dham during Shrawan are forced to walk 17 kilometers on foot due to the bridge’s inability to use vehicles. Locals and pilgrims are also facing difficulties due to the delay.
