Expert inspects damaged bridge in Kullu

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 15

The District Administration Kullu today called a consultant from Delhi to inspect the Bhutnath Bridge near bus stand Kullu that had developed cracks last week, rendering it unsafe for traffic movement.

The administration is mulling setting up a Bailey bridge to provide an alternative arrangement to manage traffic rush.

The route was declared closed for traffic by the district administration Kullu in view of public safety on January 6. 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 use it. The bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, was inaugurated on October 19, 2013.

Due to the closure of bridge, the Kullu town was witnessing traffic jam and police was struggling hard to manage the traffic.

The Public Works Department Authority Kullu had called consultant from Delhi to examine the condition of the bridge and ascertain the causes of the cracks.

According to official sources, consultant is empanelled with the Ministry of Road and Transport. He inspected the damaged bridge along with officials of the PWD. He will submit report to the PWD authority within the next 15 days and action will be taken accordingly.

When asked, Superintendent Engineer of PWD Kullu Anil Sangrai said, “We are on the job to restore the bridge for traffic as soon as possible. To find an alternative till completion of its maintenance work, we are planning to set up Bailey bridge in the area. The search is on to find a suitable location in the vicinity of damaged bridge for the purpose.”

Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur said, “This bridge was the life line of the Kullu town and helped manage traffic effectively. I will hold a meeting with PWD officials soon over this issue and efforts would be made to restore it at the earliest.”

The foundation stone of the bridge was laid on May 11, 2005 to ease the traffic congestion of Kullu town. It took around eight years for the bridge 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.