Construction Company Fined Over 180 Million NPR for Abandoning Guigad Bridge Project in Bajura

The Road Division Sanfebagar Achham has imposed a fine of NPR 179,932,044 on the construction company responsible for the Guigad Bridge project, which had been left incomplete and abandoned for 15 years. Rajendra-Thegi JV had agreed to complete the bridge by July 15, 2013 (2070 Shrawan 30), but failed to finish the work, leading to contract termination on December 30, 2026 (2083 Mansir 15).

Due to the bridge’s weakened state, it can no longer safely carry loads exceeding 30 tons. The Road Division has installed signage permitting only one vehicle at a time to cross and has initiated procedures to collect the imposed fine. This was reported on April 24 from Bajura.

The Road Division Sanfebagar Achham clarified that the construction company left the Guigad Bridge in Bajura incomplete and abandoned for 15 years without finishing the work. Despite repeated correspondence urging completion, the company ignored the notices, prompting the Division to issue a public notice of fine against Rajendra-Thegi JV, according to Subhash Shah, Information Officer and Engineer at the Road Division Office.

The contract was officially canceled on December 30, 2021 (2078 Mansir 15), and the division has now entered the final phase of collecting the penalty. After issuing a 35-day notice on March 23, 2022 (2078 Chaitra 9) to pay the fine without compliance, the process has advanced further. The notification states: “In accordance with Section 47 (3) of the Public Financial Procedure and Financial Responsibility Act 2076 and Rule 90 (5) of the Public Financial Procedure Regulations 2077, the outstanding government amount will be recorded and forwarded to Kumari Chowk and the Central District Administration Office for recovery.”

The Guigad Bridge, located on the Sanfe-Martadi road section, which connects the Bajura headquarters Martadi with the main highway, remains incomplete, forcing risky transportation conditions. Due to the bridge’s vulnerability, the Road Division office in Achham has installed a sign allowing only one vehicle at a time to cross. The office has requested a budget from the central Road Division to construct a new Bailey bridge. However, the central authority has directed that no new contract be awarded until the fine is collected from the defaulting contractor, and a new Bailey bridge is constructed. This was confirmed by the Sanfebagar Road Division.