Portion of overbridge on Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway gives way

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 25

A portion of the flyover constructed on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur National Highway near Chaunkimaan was badly damaged, when it rained for continuous three days in the region.

Soil and gravel were flooded out of the damaged portions of the flyover during the rain, thus developing a huge crack on the flyover.

Though the authorities concerned carried out the repair work by filling the cracks with soil, when the rain ended on Monday, eyebrows are being raised over the design of the bridges and the quality of material used in the construction work. In fact, it is not the first incident when a flyover on this highway was damaged due to rain. Prior to this, flyovers near Mullanpur Dakha and one near Jagraon Bus Stand were also damaged during the rainy season. At Mullanpur Dakha, some portion of the flyover had caved in.

More than one dozen flyovers have been constructed at various locations between Ludhiana and Talwandi Bhaike on Ludhiana-Ferozepur National Highway. While some of these flyovers have already been made operational, a few are yet to become operational though their construction work has been almost complete.

The damage being caused to these newly constructed flyovers on the NH has raised a serious question mark over the quality of material used in construction work as well as designs of these flyovers. When the flyover near Mullanpur Dakha was damaged due to rain a few months ago, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Mullanpur Dakha HS Phoolka had raised this issue. Questioning the quality of the material used in the construction work and the design of the bridges, Phoolka had demanded an inquiry into the matter.

“The damage to the flyovers happening again and again clearly indicates that poor quality material was used in the construction work. The condition of these bridges has not only been posing risk to common commuters, it is also a compromise with the national security because this highway connects with the International Border of Pakistan, which is very sensitive. I had demanded from the National Highways Authority of India to carry out an inquiry into the matter, but sadly nothing much has been done,” said Phoolka.

“Flyovers constructed on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur NH have been damaged at many places. Though these flyovers were constructed only a short time ago, the damage to these flyovers in the rainy season has raised serious question marks on the design and quality of material used in construction. Ironically, the construction company awarded the contract is planning to charge toll at two locations between Ludhiana and Talwandi Bhai. The government should not allow the company to collect toll from commuters till the technical flaws on the flyovers are rectified,” said Kanwaljit Khanna of Inqulabi Kendra, Punjab.

Despite repeated attempts, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Agrawal was not available for comments.

Woman injured as roof collapses 

Samrala: A woman was injured after the roof of her house collapsed at Kakrala Khurd village, near here, on Tuesday.  The injured has been identified as Surinder Kaur, wife of Jarnail Singh. According to information, Surinder Kaur was cooking in the kitchen and other family members were out. The roof of her house suddenly collapsed as it was continuously raining and she got trapped under the debris. She was rushed to the Samrala Civil Hospital, where she was given the first-aid. She was later discharged. Chowki in-charge Hedon Balwant Singh said the roof of the affected family was in a bad condition and dripping, as it was raining, due to which it collapsed. As per him, some other items, including refrigerator, got damaged in the incident. Jarnail Singh and other family members had demanded compensation for the affected family.  — OC