Tanahu Hydropower to Rebuild Four Suspension Bridges Affected by Reservoir

Tanahu Hydropower Limited has signed a contract agreement with Thani Kali Joshi Joint Venture (JV), Kathmandu, to restore and reconstruct four suspension bridges affected by the reservoir of the under-construction 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project in Tanahun district. The agreement covers the rebuilding of all four bridges that will be displaced by the rising waters of the project's reservoir, with construction of every structure targeted for completion by Baisakh 2085 BS, a deadline that corresponds to around April-May 2028. The move is aimed at preserving the traditional river crossings used by communities living along both banks as the major hydropower scheme moves closer to filling its reservoir.

Four Bridges to Be Rebuilt Under New Contract

Under the signed contract, Thani Kali Joshi JV will carry out the restoration and reconstruction of the four suspension bridges affected by the reservoir. Tanahu Hydropower Limited, the company developing the 140 MW scheme, signed the agreement with the Kathmandu-based joint venture to address the crossings that will be displaced once the reservoir comes into operation. The pact covers both the restoration and the full reconstruction of the bridges displaced by the reservoir, ensuring that the affected structures are rebuilt rather than simply abandoned.

The key elements of the agreement are:

• Developer: Tanahu Hydropower Limited
• Contractor: Thani Kali Joshi Joint Venture (JV), Kathmandu
• Scope of work: restoration and reconstruction of four suspension bridges affected by the project's reservoir
• Completion target: Baisakh 2085 BS, approximately April-May 2028

The signing of the agreement was reported by Nepal Press and Ratopati, both of which noted that construction of all four suspension bridges is targeted for completion by Baisakh 2085 BS.

Restoring Lifeline Crossings for Local Communities

Suspension bridges are among the most important pieces of local infrastructure in Nepal's hill districts. In much of rural Nepal, they are often the only practical way to cross deep river gorges, carrying pedestrians, livestock and everyday goods between settlements on opposite banks. The bridges spanning the river in Tanahun have long served residents travelling between villages, farms, schools, markets and health facilities, and the Tanahun Hydropower Project's reservoir will displace the existing structures once the water level rises.

By contracting the restoration and reconstruction of the four bridges, the project company is seeking to ensure that communities on either side are not cut off when the reservoir is filled. The works under the new agreement are intended to replace the bridges affected by the reservoir and to keep local mobility intact as the project advances. With the deadline fixed for Baisakh 2085 BS, the contractor has a clear timeline within which all four structures must be completed. The commitment also shows that the developer is addressing the local impacts that come with the creation of a large reservoir in a populated river valley, a matter that residents of project-affected areas watch closely.

About the 140 MW Tanahun Hydropower Project

The Tanahun Hydropower Project is a 140 MW scheme being developed on the Kaligandaki River in Tanahun district of Gandaki Province. The project is being built by Tanahu Hydropower Limited, a subsidiary of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) formed specifically to develop the scheme, with concessional financing from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Once complete, the project is expected to generate around 858 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually for the national grid, adding a significant volume of energy to Nepal's power supply.

The project's concrete gravity dam will impound the reservoir that has necessitated the rebuilding of the four suspension bridges. As construction progresses toward that stage, infrastructure located within the affected zone must be restored, relocated or rebuilt, and the bridges fall squarely within that category. The newly signed contract with Thani Kali Joshi JV formalizes the developer's responsibility to deliver the replacement crossings for the people of the area.

A Fixed Deadline for the Rebuild

The completion target of Baisakh 2085 BS gives residents, local authorities and the project developer a common timeframe for when the four bridges should be ready. For the people of Tanahun, the timely rebuilding of the crossings will determine how easily they can move across the river once the reservoir of the 140 MW project is filled, making the deadline one of the most closely watched aspects of the agreement.

The reconstruction of the four bridges forms part of the broader package of works tied to the Tanahun Hydropower Project's reservoir. As the project, one of the country's significant hydropower undertakings under construction with Japanese assistance, advances toward completion, the restoration of community infrastructure such as these crossings remains an important measure of how smoothly the transition toward reservoir operation proceeds for the people living around the site. All four suspension bridges are now due to be finished by Baisakh 2085 BS, with responsibility for meeting that schedule resting squarely with the newly appointed contractor.