Bridge in Kullu develops crack, closed to traffic

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 6

Keeping in view public safety, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Yunus Khan has issued a notification that traffic movement will remain suspended on Bhutnath Bridge on the bypass road in Kullu town from January 6 to February 5 as the bridge has developed a crack, posing threat to the safe traffic movement.

The bridge connects the Kullu-Manali right bank road with the left bank road near the Kullu bus stand and a majority of the HRTC and private buses cross it. The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, was inaugurated on October 19, 2013.

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid on May 11, 2005 to ease the traffic congestion of Kullu town, which took around eight years to be completed. The people of the town said the bridge had developed cracks within a gap of five years, raising a question mark on the quality of work undertaken.

It’s one part is sinking. Now, the officials are taking help of experts for the repair works so that the bridge could be restored for traffic movement.

The Superintending Engineer, PWD, Kullu, said, “We have summoned the contractor and designer of the bridge, who had constructed it. We are also taking help of expert engineers, how to repair anf restore it for normal traffic.”

Yunus Khan said, “Safety of the people is our top priority. The PWD has informed me that the bridge has developed some cracks and it is not safe for traffic movement. In view of public safety, we have stopped traffic movement on it till February 5.”