Temporary Footbridges and Ziplines Reopen Rasuwa-Nuwakot Road for Pedestrian Traffic

Rasauwa. Pedestrian movement has been brought into operation by constructing alternative footbridges and cable cars on the Rasuwa-Nuwakot road section. Pedestrian movement was obstructed on that road section after floods washed away the concrete bridge at Phalakhu Khola and the concrete bridge over the Bhote Koshi River at Syaphrubesi. ‘Alternative structures have been constructed to immediately facilitate movement,’ said Armed Police Force Superintendent Tul Bahadur Bhandari. ‘In the first phase, footbridges have been constructed using bamboo and wood at Betrawati to facilitate pedestrian movement. A steel cable car has been installed at Syaphrubesi.’ According to Bhandari, although the cable car construction at Syaphrubesi is complete, the work of organizing the pedestrian path on the right and left sides is underway. This structure will be fully operational within a day or two. Betrawati to Gerkhu, Chhapatar, and Keraghari towards Nuwakot has become easy after the construction of the footbridge at Betrawati, said Provincial Assembly member Indra Prasad Gotame. Social worker Ganesh Shrestha informed that the construction of the footbridge was supported by the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and local residents. Assistant Chief District Officer Dhruva Prasad Adhikari said that the steel cable car at Syaphrubesi was prepared in coordination with security agencies including the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force. The movement of local residents has become easier through the Betrawati footbridge and Syaphrubesi cable car, constructed with the objective of solving the immediate movement problem. In particular, it has become easier for residents of areas like Gatlang, Goljung, Chilime, Thuman, Syo, and Grile in northern Rasuwa to travel via Syaphrubesi. Movement has also been relieved for residents of areas like Lahare Pauwa, Jwajibe, Dhaibung, Bhorle, and Ramche after the construction of the Betrawati footbridge. Local residents, however, have demanded the construction of a bailey bridge in the long run, even though the temporary footbridges and cable cars have solved the immediate problem. They have urged for the speedy construction of a bailey bridge by intensifying the reconstruction of roads and bridge structures destroyed by the floods.