Eight years on, bridge on Baner river still a dream

A bridge on the Baner river, connecting 15 panchayats on the Daulatpur-Kharati road, has remained incomplete for eight years, causing a lot of inconvenience to residents of over a dozen villages. The construction of the bridge began in 2017 after its foundation was laid by the late CM Virbhadra Singh. However, the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to make it operational.

Two years ago, the bridge collapsed due to poor construction quality, and the PWD has yet to resume work. In September 2023, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh visited the site and directed the department to complete the bridge within a year, but the project remains only half-finished. Official sources reveal that fresh bids for the bridge’s construction have been invited and sent to the head office for approval due to a single tender.

Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal criticised the PWD for repeated delays, citing extensions granted to the contractor despite their failure to complete the work. He secured a Rs 3.3 crore budget for the project in 2017 from NABARD but alleged that substandard construction led to the bridge’s collapse. Kajal demanded strict action against the responsible engineers and called for a Vigilance Department inquiry into the matter.

A four-member fact-finding team from the PWD was previously formed to investigate the bridge collapse. The team inspected the site, collected evidence, and recorded statements. However, no action has been taken against those at fault.

Residents of the affected villages continue to face hardships, and growing public outrage demands accountability from the PWD for this prolonged delay. Kajal emphasized the urgent need to expedite the project and ensure that such lapses are not repeated.