11 years on, Kangra bridge hangs fire

Ashok Raina

Kangra, June 29

A 68-metre-long bridge on Banner Khad, connecting the two Assembly constituencies of Kangra and Nagrota Bagwan, is yet to be completed even after 11 years.

The bridge was to connect Bohdarbala with Sukot, Tarsu and some other villages. When completed, it will shorten the route by 25 km benefiting the residents of several villages intending to reach Kangra town and Tanda Medical College.

Work on the Rs 1.25-crore project was initiated in February 2009 by the PWD but it yet to be finished. Some progress was made in 2012 but the abutment work was stuck for want of an NOC from the Railways. The bridge was to come up on the Pathankot-Jogindernagar railway track near Kangra mandir railway station.

Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal said the bridge had been left incomplete due to lack of coordination between the PWD and the Railways. He said the Railways granted an NOC with the condition that the remaining part of the bridge would be constructed by it. Kajal said he had raised the issue in the Assembly several times but to no avail.

PWD sources said a report on the remaining part of the bridge had been submitted to NABARD for approval. Kajal questioned when the work was to be carried out through the MLA priority fund, why the delay. He said the project was worth Rs 1.25 crore but the cost had now escalated to Rs 5.55 crore. Sources said after NABARD grants an approval, the Railways would complete the remaining part of the bridge.

Lack of coordination to blame, alleges MLA

Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal said due to lack of coordination between the PWD and the Railways, the bridge had been left incomplete. He said he had raised the issue in the Assembly five times but to no avail.