Narrow bridges on Pathankot-Mandi NH turn death traps

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, February 15

Over 12 small and major bridges on the Pathankot-Mandi National Highway between Kangra and Mandi have become virtual death traps as several fatal accidents have taken place in the past two years. Most of the bridges constructed during the British era don’t have side railings and are on the verge of collapse.

Bridges excluded from 4-lane project

• Earlier, it was expected that with the construction of a four-lane highway, new bridges would also come up on it
• However, with the change in the alignment of the highway, Palampur, Maranda, Baijnath, Paprola and Jogindernagar towns have been bypassed
• Now, the NHAI will not use the 65-km stretch of the old highway. As such, there is little hope that new bridges will be built

There has been a manifold increase in traffic on the highway but the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has not initiated steps to replace these narrow bridges with the bigger ones.

The Pathankot-Mandi NH is one of the busiest highways of the northern region and thousands of vehicles ply on it every day. These bridges have already outlived their life span and the foundations of many of them have washed away in floods.

Earlier, it was expected that with the construction of a four-lane highway, new bridges would also come up on it. However, with the change in the alignment of the four-lane highway, Palampur, Maranda, Baijnath, Paprola and Jogindernagar towns have been bypassed. Now, the NHAI will not use the 65-km stretch of the old highway. As such, there is little hope that new bridges will be built.

A bridge with a narrow curve near Kalu Di Hatti opposite to a petrol pump on the highway is a major black spot for motorists. In the absence of crash barriers, light vehicles and two-wheelers, at times, fall into khuds when the traffic flow is heavy.

Meanwhile, NHAI sources say that the old highway will not be touched as the main focus is on the construction of the 65-km four-lane highway with a new alignment between Paror and Padhar, avoiding congested areas and the narrow old stretch.