Govt to import motorboats for Koshi
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Sept 25 -
Good news for people in Eastern Nepal. The government is all set to bring into operation six motorboats imported from India to provide transportation to the local people who have been facing a tough time crossing the Koshi River after it washed away part of the East-West Highway.
Seven inflatable rafts taken from Kathmandu have been ferrying commuters since last week keeping in view the increasing flow of passengers with the festive season approaching. “We will put the motorboats, which have been donated by the World Bank, into service within this week to allow people to cross the swollen Koshi River at three points,” Tulsi Prasad Sitaula, director general of the Department of Roads, told the Post. Each motorboat has a capacity to carry 10 people. “The service will be provided free of cost,” he added.
He said the people would be able to cross the river in comfort in the coming days and during the Dashain and Tihar festivals after the power boats come into operation. He added that a jet boat brought from Chitwan would be operational soon at Chattra on the Koshi River.
Last month, the Koshi River burst its embankments and the rushing waters destroyed various structures including the 14-km-long Laukahi-Bhantabari stretch of the East-West Highway. Movement on the highway and the Dharan-Chatara road was brought to a complete halt as a result.
According to Sitaula, the floodwaters destroyed three slab culverts, 10 pipe culverts and one small bridge along the highway. He said preparations were on to run a ferry service in Chatara within one month. Six Bailey bridges will also be built on the highway in the next three months as an immediate plan to resume normal vehicular movement. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has allocated Rs. 300 million for reconstruction of varied structures wiped out by the Koshi flood in Eastern Nepal.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 26 September 2008
Good news for people in Eastern Nepal. The government is all set to bring into operation six motorboats imported from India to provide transportation to the local people who have been facing a tough time crossing the Koshi River after it washed away part of the East-West Highway.
Seven inflatable rafts taken from Kathmandu have been ferrying commuters since last week keeping in view the increasing flow of passengers with the festive season approaching. “We will put the motorboats, which have been donated by the World Bank, into service within this week to allow people to cross the swollen Koshi River at three points,” Tulsi Prasad Sitaula, director general of the Department of Roads, told the Post. Each motorboat has a capacity to carry 10 people. “The service will be provided free of cost,” he added.
He said the people would be able to cross the river in comfort in the coming days and during the Dashain and Tihar festivals after the power boats come into operation. He added that a jet boat brought from Chitwan would be operational soon at Chattra on the Koshi River.
Last month, the Koshi River burst its embankments and the rushing waters destroyed various structures including the 14-km-long Laukahi-Bhantabari stretch of the East-West Highway. Movement on the highway and the Dharan-Chatara road was brought to a complete halt as a result.
According to Sitaula, the floodwaters destroyed three slab culverts, 10 pipe culverts and one small bridge along the highway. He said preparations were on to run a ferry service in Chatara within one month. Six Bailey bridges will also be built on the highway in the next three months as an immediate plan to resume normal vehicular movement. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Works has allocated Rs. 300 million for reconstruction of varied structures wiped out by the Koshi flood in Eastern Nepal.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, 26 September 2008
