Rasuwa floods: Rehabilitation of road transport accelerates, 53 suspension bridges damaged
Kathmandu. The Department of Roads has intensified the work for the immediate rehabilitation of roads and bridges damaged due to the devastating Rasuwa floods on August 26.
According to the Department, the floods have caused a big loss to roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
Director General of the Department of Roads, Dr. According to Vijay Jaisi, 31 bridges under the department have been washed away or damaged by the floods. Some bridges have been completely washed away while the spans of some bridges have been damaged.
The department has started the construction of bailey bridges at Devighat, Trishuli Bazaar and Betrawati for the time being. Preparations are being made to install a 50-meter-long bailey bridge on the Tadi River Bridge at Devighat. The department has said that the necessary design for this has been completed.
On-site survey is being done to place bailey bridges on the remaining 20 damaged bridges. Director General Jaisi said that survey and design work is being done in some places as the condition of the foundation has to be studied before installing bailey bridges.
The floods had caused a huge amount of mud in Galchhi, Baireni, Jarikhet, Pokhare, Bange and Galaudi areas along the Prithvi Highway. According to JC, two to
three meters of mud was piled up in some places. He said that it was difficult to remove the very thick sludge even with ordinary equipment.
The Department of Roads has mobilized about
50 technicians in the field for the rehabilitation of the road after the floods.
Two
officers of first class, five or six senior divisional engineers (CDE) and technical manpower including engineers, sub-engineers, operators and mechanics have been deputed in the field.
According to the department, it is not possible to reach all the affected areas on-site, so survey has been carried out through helicopters in some places. The Board of Roads has allocated Rs 32
.5 million for the immediate restoration of flood-damaged roads and transport services.
Director General Jaisi said that an emergency meeting of the Road Board held after the floods has allocated the amount for fuel, gravel and other emergency works in the affected areas.
According to the department, the additional amount will be spent on the related projects from the allocated budget.
The Department of Roads has deployed more than 15 construction equipment at various places. As the road is congested in the Betrawati area, 14 equipment are currently in operation and other equipment is in reserve.
The road connection with Dhadingbesi has been disrupted after the road at Krishnabhir and Parewadanda along the Prithvi Highway was damaged and the Furkekhola bridge towards Dhadingbesi collapsed. The Department has brought into operation an alternative road from Mastar of the Prithvi Highway to Nepaltar, Gajuritar, Pipaltar, Adamtar and Benighat to Dhadingbesi.
According to the Department, a link has been established with Dhadingbesi from this road.
Similarly, an alternative road to Trishuli Bazaar via Galchhi, Kalleritar, Kausikhola, Pipaltar, Darshantar, Chhatrekhola and Gauribesi has also been operated. The Department has been working with priority to bring the road from Bidur of Nuwakot to Dhunche via Betrawati.
Out of about 10 km of the Bidur-Betrawati road, more than 6 km of the road was completely washed away by the flood. The department has now dug up the road to reach about seven kilometers towards Betrawati.
Vertical cutting is required as the road has to be taken out from the banks of the Trishuli River in Betrawati area. After the completion of this cutting, preparations are being made to operate the traffic towards Dhunche by placing a bailey bridge in Betrawati.
Currently, an alternative road of about
110 kilometers from Tokha of Kathmandu to Dhunche via Chhahare, Chaughada Bridge, Apra Bridge, Samrathali and Bogatitar is being used.
Due to the flood in Krishnabhir, the road has been cut in two places, causing problems in the operation of traffic. A technical study is being conducted on whether to open the road by cutting the wall towards the wall or to construct an alternative road.
Damage to 53 suspension bridges
According to the Department of Infrastructure Development, 53 suspension bridges have been damaged by the floods. Of these, about 20 bridges are in a condition of repair and operation, while 33 bridges are in a state of complete reconstruction.
It is estimated that Rs
150 million will be required for immediate maintenance of the suspension bridge, Rs 60 crore for reconstruction and Rs 40 crore for rural roads.
The Department has set a target to complete the construction of the suspension bridge within 20-25 days. Around
6,000 houses in three districts have been affected by the floods that hit Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts.
According to preliminary reports, about 6,000 private houses have been completely or partially damaged in the three districts. 45 government structures, including schools, have also been completely and partially damaged.
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