2nd India–Nepal motorable bridge in Pithoragarh nearing completion

Pithoragarh: A motorable bridge being constructed over the Kali river at Baluakot in Pithoragarh district is expected to be completed within the next three months, officials said. Once ready, it will be the second motorable bridge in Uttarakhand across the India–Nepal border; the other is located at Banbasa.India and Nepal signed an agreement in Feb 2022 to construct the bridge at Charchum (Baluakot) in Dharchula tehsil of Pithoragarh district. The project aims to connect remote border areas of Uttarakhand with Nepal's Sudurpaschim province and improve access to hill districts across the border. The bridge is being constructed by India.According to Arun Arora, executive engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), the bridge is 110 m long, and around Rs 32 crore has been spent on its construction so far. Work on the project began in Aug 2022.Pithoragarh district magistrate Ashish Kumar Bhatgai said, "Construction of the bridge was almost complete. He added that Nepali authorities inspected the site a few months ago and requested a downstream connectivity road." "A 130 m stretch of the connectivity road is currently under construction and is expected to be completed within three months," Kumar said.Bhatgai added that check posts for customs, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), police and the forest department would be constructed near the bridge. Nepal will also build similar departmental posts on its side, he said, adding that instructions have been issued to the departments concerned to complete the work.Once operational, the bridge is expected to facilitate the movement of people and goods across the border and improve connectivity in the region. Officials said it could also promote tourism in the area.