Reconstruction of the Maldhunga bridge, the key link between Baglung and Parbat districts in western Nepal, is progressing at full pace, with Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal announcing that the Maldhunga bridge reconstruction will be finished and the bridge reopened to traffic within a week.
In a Facebook update posted on October 4, the minister said large quantities of construction materials are being mobilized and crews are working day and night on the rebuild. He described the progress as markedly improved and said preparations are underway to complete the permanent reconstruction within a week and bring the bridge back into service for vehicles.
“Reconstruction work is underway so that the bridge operates permanently,” the minister wrote, adding that the plan is to complete the work in a week and open the bridge to traffic.
Bridges like Maldhunga are lifelines for the communities on either side. For residents of Baglung and Parbat, a reliable crossing is the difference between normal daily movement and long, costly detours. Trade, school commutes, access to health facilities, and the movement of agricultural produce all depend on this crossing functioning without interruption. When a bridge that links two districts goes out of service, the burden falls hardest on rural households that already face long travel times to markets and services.
The minister’s update fits a wider pattern this monsoon season. Heavy rains have damaged roads and bridges across Nepal this year, and the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been moving fast to repair and reopen critical links. The Maldhunga bridge reconstruction follows similar emergency work on flood-hit crossings elsewhere, including the temporary track and bailey bridge at Betrawati on the Galchhi-Betrawati road section in Rasuwa, where the ministry pushed to restore traffic quickly. See: https://eve-construction.com/betrawati-bailey-bridge-rasuwa/
Maldhunga Bridge Reconstruction at Full Pace
Rebuilding for permanent operation, rather than a temporary patch, signals that the ministry intends this crossing to be a long-term asset. Permanent reconstruction generally involves reinforced structural work designed to withstand future floods, an important consideration as extreme rainfall keeps putting pressure on Nepal’s river crossings. Another bridge reopening in the Terai, the Tamor Khola bridge at Lalbudhat, shows the same push to restore flood-hit crossings: https://eve-construction.com/tamor-khola-bridge-lalbudhat/
The one-week target is ambitious, but the minister’s update suggests the heavy work is largely done, with crews now pushing through the final stages around the clock. If the deadline holds, commuters and goods carriers between Baglung and Parbat should see normal traffic restored soon.
Travelers in the area should watch for official updates from the ministry or local authorities on the reopening date.
Source: Minister Sunil Lamsal’s Facebook post, October 4: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1098947826333328/