Release advance Rs 25L to Army for Bailey bridge: HC to PWD

With an aim to address the daily hardships faced by Rajputana Rifles soldiers in the national capital, the Delhi High Court has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to immediately release an advance sum of Rs 25 lakh to the Army for the construction of a Bailey bridge.

This comes after the court took a suo motu cognisance of a news report exposing the appalling condition in which jawans have to pass through a foul smelling and waterlogged drain on their way to the parade ground.

A Division Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora issued the order, making it clear that once the Army receives the advance, all agencies concerned must strictly follow the timelines agreed upon for the project.

The direction was passed during the hearing of a suo motu case initiated following a newspaper report published on May 26 titled “A smelly trail from barracks to grounds: Regiment’s daily battle.” The article revealed that soldiers had to cross a flooded culvert multiple times a day, often trudging through near waist-deep sludge.

The court termed the situation as “unacceptable” and had earlier, on June 18, ordered the authorities to ensure there was no waterlogging in the culvert. It had also directed that water be regularly pumped out to prevent further impediments to the soldiers’ movement.

With the construction of a permanent foot over bridge likely to take around 10 months, the Army has stepped in to build a temporary Bailey bridge in the interim, which is expected to be completed within 40 days. The court noted that the Army had agreed to undertake the task directly, given the urgency.

While approving the Army-led construction plan, the court also instructed the PWD to initiate the tender process for the permanent foot over bridge and submit a status report by the next hearing date.

“In the meantime, let the maintenance of the culvert continue in terms of the order dated June 18, 2025,” the court directed, ensuring that the soldiers’ safety is not compromised during the construction phase.