India has delivered a 70-metre modular bridge along with specialized launching equipment to Nepal, strengthening ongoing post-disaster reconstruction efforts after October’s devastating rains and landslides. The handover ceremony was held in Hetauda on November 20, where India’s Ambassador to Nepal formally transferred the complete bridge set to Nepal’s Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
The modular bridge, provided on a grant basis, is part of a larger commitment by the Government of India to supply ten high-span bailey bridges requested by Nepal in the aftermath of severe rainfall that struck eastern regions last month. Valued at more than NPR 73 crore, these bridges are intended to swiftly restore disrupted road connectivity in vulnerable districts. The newly handed-over structure will be deployed immediately to Ramechhap, one of the worst-hit areas where transport links remain severely affected.
This support follows India assistance last year, when ten prefabricated steel bridges worth NPR 41 crore were supplied after the floods and landslides of September 2024. Four of those structures have already been installed, easing mobility in disaster-stricken zones.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Naveen Shrivastava said the modular bridges symbolise the “enduring bonds of friendship” between India and Nepal. He added that the initiative reaffirms India’s commitment to strengthening Nepal’s infrastructure and supporting its recovery from natural disasters.
Nepal’s Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, expressed deep appreciation for India’s continued assistance. He emphasized that the rapid-assembly design of the bridges, combined with the specialized launching tools, will allow reconstruction teams to restore connectivity much faster. He assured that the newly delivered bridge would be operational at the earliest.
With frequent rains, floods, and landslides increasingly impacting Nepal transport network, the swift deployment of modular bridges is expected to play a critical role in improving mobility, supporting relief operations, and enabling long-term resilience in disaster-prone regions.