July 13: The government has decided to expedite the construction of flyovers in the Kathmandu valley with the objective of minimizing traffic congestion.

The Department of Roads on Monday issued a tender for the construction of a four-lane flyover at Gwarko.

Only the domestic construction companies of Nepal will be eligible to participate in the bidding process for the constructing the flyover. The company will have to hand over the flyover to the department within the next two years.

 The contract was issued by the Quality Research and Development Center under the department on Monday. 

Dr. Bijay Jaishi, director of the center, said that instead of a complex structure like in developed countries, a simple 35 meter bridge will be made and Nepali companies are capable of making such a bridge. So, the tender was issued allowing only Nepali companies to participate. 

The flyover to be constructed in the form of Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) model should be completed by the company within the given deadline. 

“It is a small contract. Nepali construction companies also have good capacity to build bridges,” said Jaishi, “As it is a simple flyover, we are trying to encourage Nepalis.” 

The Kalanki-Koteshwor section of the ring road has been upgraded to eight lanes with the help of the Chinese government. Jaishi said that a four-lane flyover will be constructed in Gwarko under the same road section. Out of the 455-meter long flyover, a 35 meter bridge will be built over the road and vehicles from Mangalbazar (Patan) to Imadol will operate under the bridge. 

The department has already secured source of fund worth Rs 340 million from the Ministry of Finance to build the flyover. Jaishi said that this flyover will be built with the same amount. 

Apart from Gwarko, the department also has plans to build flyovers in Sitapaila and Ekantakuna.