Bailey Bridge work leads to chaos in Kullu

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, November 15

Long queues of traffic and frequent traffic jams are witnessed in the town due to construction work of the new Bailey Bridge at Bhuntar, 10 km from here.The traffic from the Bailey Bridge, linking the Kullu-Manali National Highway and the Bhuntar-Manikaran road, will remain suspended till December 10, on account of construction work.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan stated that a notification under the Motor Vehicle Act in this regard had already been issued and directions have been made to the Police Department for its compliance to ensure smooth flow of traffic.

The DC said Volvo buses to and from Manali would cross over from the town between 9 pm and 7am. He said small vehicles going towards Mandi would be allowed to pass through Parla Bhuntar to Bajaura. He said heavy vehicles would be permitted to cross the town between 11pm and 5am.

Residents alleged that despite the regulation of timing, some heavy vehicles were seen passing through the town during the day. 

They alleged that rush of vehicles had increased and the police should increase vigil from Sarwari to Dhalpur to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and curtail heavy vehicles, especially during office hours.

Yunus said another Bailey Bridge with a better load capacity would be erected in place of the earlier bridge within one month. He said the construction work of the concrete bridge would take about one year to be completed and its work had also been initiated.

The Bailey Bridge was the main cause of traffic jam in Bhuntar, specially during summers when a large number of tourist vehicles came to the hill station. Now, a wider Bailey Bridge would provide smooth passage for the two way traffic, he said.

Shalini Agnihotri, SP, Kullu, said that extra police personnel had been deployed to ease out congestion during this period. She added that since there was no alternate route, the passage of heavy vehicles and Volvo buses through Kullu town was being regulated. 

Meanwhile, residents of Bhuntar had to cover a large distance to go to Parla Bhuntar, which was either through congested and narrow Garsa road or from Kullu town. 

 Closed till Dec 10

• Long queues of vehicles are witnessed in the town due to construction work of the new Bailey Bridge
• The traffic from the Bailey Bridge will remain suspended till December 10, on account of work.
• Volvo buses to and from Manali will cross over from the town between 9pm and 7am 
• Small vehicles going towards Mandi will be allowed to pass through Parla Bhuntar to Bajaura
• Heavy vehicles will be permitted to cross the town between 11pm and 5am.