New Sino-Nepal friendship bridge comes into operation

A new Sino-Nepal "friendship bridge" that links the Himalayan nation with Tibet has been formally opened to traffic, four years after the old bridge was damaged in the massive 2015 earthquake.

The Nepal-China Friendship Bridge (Miteri bridge) was constructed with Chinese aid at the Rasuwagadhi border point in Rasuwa district after the old bridge was damaged in the earthquake.

The new bridge was constructed just five metres north-east from the damaged bridge.

The newly-constructed 110-metre bridge came into operation on Thursday with cargo trucks crossing the border point, Rasuwa Customs Office chief Punya Bikram Khadka told the Kathmandu Post.

Although the bridge is now open, the Chinese side is planning to officially handover the bridge to Nepal next week.

The new bridge was built by a Chinese company after dismantling the old bridge, which sustained massive damage in the middle section due to a landslide triggered by the earthquake.

The successful operation of the bridge also spurred the completion of the 150-metre double lane road section on the Nepali side, the report said.