Janakpurdham, 14 Oct 2026. The Kamala River bridge on the Postal Highway, connecting Dhanusha and Siraha districts in Madhesh Province, is preparing to open to traffic after years of delay caused by flood damage and an insurance dispute.
The contract for the bridge was agreed in 2068 BS with Pappu JV Lumbini, Kathmandu, and construction started with the bridge due to open in 2078 BS. However, on 1 Jul 2021, a flood in the Kamala River sank two pillars, and a dispute with the construction company’s insurer then stalled rebuilding for years, leaving the vital crossing incomplete and frustrating local residents.
Kamala River Bridge Reconstruction in Final Stage
According to Krishna Kumar Mahato, chief and Senior Divisional Engineer at the Postal Highway Directorate Planning Office in Janakpurdham, pillar reconstruction is now in its final stage. One of the two sunken pillars has been strengthened, and two new pillars have been built at the site of the worse sunken pillar, addressing the structural damage caused by the 2021 flood.
Suryaprakash Sharma, the contractor’s site representative from Pappu Lumbini JV, says work is proceeding at full pace in the final stage. The accelerated effort reflects the urgency to complete the bridge, which has been awaited by residents on both sides of the river for years.
Traffic had been prepared from Kartik, but the Bhadra flood affected construction, causing further delay. Traffic is now expected from the last week of Mangsir 2083, about 11 to 16 Dec 2026, giving the contractor time to complete the remaining works and ensure the bridge is safe for vehicles.
Benefits for Madhesh Province Connectivity
Kamala Municipality mayor Bisheshwar Yadav highlighted the benefits of the bridge opening. Saptari and Siraha residents will be able to reach the Madhesh capital Janakpurdham easily, while Dhanusha residents will find it easier to reach Rajbiraj. The bridge will significantly improve connectivity across the region, reducing travel time and boosting economic activity.
The Postal Highway is a critical east-west corridor in the Terai, and the Kamala River bridge is a key link in this network. Its completion will fill a major gap, allowing uninterrupted travel along the highway and connecting communities that have been separated by the river for too long.
Note: This is a new story about the Kamala River bridge on the Postal Highway. The site’s existing Kamala bridge post covers a different bridge.
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