Bridge on Palampur highway a death trap

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, February 21

A bridge on the Palampur-Dharamsala highway, opposite to the Plaza Market on the outskirts of the town, has turned into a death trap as many accidents have taken place in the past three months. The Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to initiate action.

Officials of the PWD who maintain the road, are well versed with the situation that the highway has become narrow at this point. The road is used by thousands of commuters daily as the highway is linked with the district headquarters, Dharamsala. So far, no steps have been initiated either to widen the bridge or to construct a new one. The bridge has already outlived its life as its foundation and retaining walls are on the verge of collapse.

Since this is the only bridge with a narrow curve on both sides, therefore, it has become accident prone. Two-wheelers and other light vehicles are prone to accidents due to heavy traffic.

Enquiries made by Tribune revealed that the bridge was constructed by the PWD about 50 years ago to connect Ghuggar and Aima villages of Palampur. Later, in 1966, the PWD connected this road with the district headquarters, Dharamsala and also declared it a state highway.

However, in 1990 the PWD expanded the bridge, but due to the heavy traffic, it has failed to meet today’s requirements.

Vikas Sood, Executive Engineer, PWD, while talking to The Tribune said the state government knew that the bridge had become accident prone. He said at present, no land had been left on both side of the bridge either to widen the bridge or the road.

He said there was no shortage of funds, but because of the construction of a few shops adjoining the bridge, the situation had become from bad to worse. There was no scope left with the PWD to expand the road or the bridge. He said while passing the maps for buildings such issues were ignored by the TCP and the local municipal council, which has led to the inconvenience of the public as well as the Public Works Department that maintains the road.