Multania flyover cries for upkeep

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 20

Gaping holes in the pavement, barbed wires installed in place of railings that have fallen off and a bus stop without a shed — these are only some of the problems that troubles the Multania flyover.

About two months ago, following a news report published in Bathinda Tribune, the Buildings and Roads Department had even started repair and maintenance work of the flyover but it turned out to be another cursory touch up.

As per sources, the Buildings and Roads Department is waiting for funds before it can start the full-fledged repair and maintenance of the flyover, which has been crying for the upkeep for several years.

While the use of substandard material for laying roads, frequent plying of heavy vehicles or accumulation of water during the monsoon season could be the reasons behind potholes on bridges, commuters believe that the departments concerned in a deep slumber as far as the upkeep of the bridge is concerned.

Sources in the Buildings and Roads Department stated that the Multania flyover was very old and proper repair had not been done in all these years.

Notably, the flyover was built in 1992 and the railings are as old as the flyover. These were constructed with the old architectural mechanics.

The sources also claim that the main problem with the flyover is that of maintaining the weep holes that are left on the flyovers to aid the disposal of rainwater and any kind of water stagnating on the flyover. These weep holes are further dug up by rats and the sealing material is also destroyed, causing depressions in the flyover roads and footpaths.

In the recent past, the Buildings and Roads Department had written to the government to release funds for the repair of the flyover. A few months ago, an estimate, along with the proposal to repair the roads, to the tune of Rs 1 crore was sent to the state government but the funds are yet to be released.

Since the Bathinda-Dabwali road is also closed for commuters, especially heavy vehicles, all traffic has been diverted to the Multania flyover, which is further leading to its deterioration and traffic congestion. The flyover, which is actually a railway overbridge, is almost 1.4 km and passes over the railway lines of the Bathinda junction.

Meanwhile, commuters demand that the flyover be repaired without any further delay. The commuters have now been alleging that despite the fact that the railway overbridge serves as the lifeline to the residents those staying across the railway lines, the government departments are looking the other way while the flyover is in a shambles.