Bridge over Gamber incomplete due to faulty design, tardy pace of work

The tardy pace of the work on a critical bridge over the Gamber river on the Subathu-Kunihar road in Solan district has delayed its completion. The work on a connecting road and its retaining walls is yet to be completed.

The work got delayed due to heavy rain. The monsoon had retreated weeks ago but the work was yet to pick pace. Besides, a faulty design and unresolved land acquisition issues had already delayed the work considerably. The bridge could not be connected to the other side due to a 25-metre elevation difference.

The private contractor employed by the Public Works Department (PWD) had earlier submitted two designs to join the bridge with the other end but they were not accepted. A third design was then worked out which finally found the favour of the PWD’s design wing.

The PWD took months to resolve these issues as the private landowner, whose three bighas fell in the construction zone, had moved court to secure proper compensation. Following the court orders, the acquisition process was initiated some months ago and a mutual agreement was arrived at between the revenue and the public works departments.

Gurminder Rana, Executive Engineer, PWD, Kasauli, said that the testing of the bridge had already been completed and the remaining work such as the construction of retaining walls and a connecting road would be completed over the next few weeks. He added that the monsoon had delayed the work but it was being expedited now.

Around Rs 10 crore has already been spent on the new double-lane arch bridge, constructed parallel to an old deteriorating structure.