11 years on, Kangra bridge yet to see light of day

Ashok Raina

Kangra, June 19

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

The bridge was to connect Bohdarbala with Sukot, Tarsu and other villages. If completed, it would have shortened the route by 25 km for residents of several villages for reaching Kangra town and Tanda Medical College.

Work on the Rs 1.25-crore project was started in February, 2009, by the Public Works Department (PWD) but it did not finish even after 11 years. Some of it was completed in 2012 but the remaining abutment work was left for want of an NOC from the Railways. The bridge was to cross the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway track near Kangra Mandir railway station.

Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal said due to lack of coordination, the PWD and Railways had left the bridge incomplete. He said the Railways did grant an NOC but with a condition that the remaining part of the bridge would be constructed by it. Kajal said he had raised the issue in the Assembly five times but no action was taken.

PWD sources said a detailed project report on the remaining part of the bridge had been submitted to NABARD for approval. Kajal said when the work was to be carried out through the MLA priority fund, why was it delayed by nearly 11 years? He said the project was of Rs 1.25 crore but the incomplete work would cost Rs 5.55 crore. The PWD sources said after NABARD grants an approval, the Railways would complete the remaining part of the bridge.