New bridge between Shimla & Mandi in the works: Minister

Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh today said the state government will build a new double-lane bridge to ensure connectivity between Shimla and Mandi. The minister announced this during an inspection of Thali bridge at Sunni. The bridge has been damaged due to heavy rain.

Directions have been issued to the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (HPPWD) to identify a suitable site for the bridge from Gharat Nala to Ghanghar at Sunni, he added. The minister said once the site is identified an estimate for the construction of the double-lane bridge will be prepared.

He said due to the construction of a dam, water level has been rising year after year causing damage to Thali bridge. “The matter will also be raised before Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and both SJVNL and NTPC will be involved in the construction work,” he added.

The minister directed officials concerned to conduct a structural audit of the damaged bridge. He said, “A committee to assess condition of the bridge will be constituted soon. The committee will submit its report. Pedestrians will be allowed to use the bridge only if the report is positive.”

The minister also inspected the campus of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Sunni, that was waterlogged. “A dumping site will be created here to prevent water from entering the institute. To drain out water from the ITI campus, the PWD will deploy machinery,” he said.

He added that for the last two years, the Sunni area has been facing significant threats due to the dam. He said a meeting will be held this week at the Secretariat with NTPC, SJVNL and all stakeholders. “A long-term plan will be discussed for the dam-affected area so that people do not suffer losses in future,” said the minister.

Later, the minister paid a surprise visit to the proposed site for the Critical Care Unit (CCU) on the Sunni hospital premises. He directed the PWD officials to make changes in the CCU’s design and to complete all formalities at the earliest so that a proposal can be sent to the National Health Mission, after which the work will be allocated.

The minister said the CCU is proposed to be constructed with the Centre’s help under the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. The facility will have 50 beds. “Once the CCU is established, it will not only benefit thousands of people in the Sunni area, but also those of the adjoining Mandi district. Vacant posts at the hospital will also be filled soon,” he added.