Villagers resist full dismantling of Swan river bridge during rains

On a request by residents of Algran and its surrounding areas, Minister for Education Harjot Singh Bains, who represents the area, has directed that only one side of the Algara bridge over the Swan river be dismantled during reconstruction. The other side will remain open to allow passage for two-wheelers. The directive was aimed to minimise disruption to daily traffic during the ongoing monsoon.

The bridge over the Swan has been lying damaged since 2022. The pillars of the bridge sank allegedly due to illegal mining. Recently, the government awarded a contract worth Rs 17 crore for repairs of the bridge and the company was planning to take down portions of the bridge for reconstruction.

However, villagers were using the damaged bridge to cross the swollen Swan during monsoon. So, they requested the minister that bridge should not be totally dismantled. Otherwise, they would lose complete connectivity with Anandpur Sahib and Nurpur areas of Ropar district.

The decision for the partial dismantling of the bridge was taken following a meeting of the coordination committee overseeing the construction of the Algara bridge yesterday. The meeting was attended by local residents, sarpanches and prominent village representatives who raised their concerns about the complete closure of the bridge.

The Algara bridge serves as a critical link for the residents of Algran village and surrounding areas in Ropar district, providing access across the Swan river, a tributary that swells dangerously during monsoon due to rain in Himachal Pradesh. The bridge is not only essential for the movement of people, but also for facilitating access to schools, workplaces, health centres and local markets.

Currently, the bridge is in a deteriorated condition, necessitating reconstruction. However, complete demolition without a temporary bypass could leave hundreds of daily commuters, including students, employees and farmers, stranded or forced to take long and unsafe detours.

During the meeting, villagers requested that one half of the bridge should remain intact for two-wheeler traffic while the other half is dismantled for reconstruction. They argued that constructing a temporary passage along the riverbank during the monsoon would be risky due to high water levels and strong currents.

The villagers further suggested that once the monsoon recedes and the water level falls, a temporary passage could be created after which the remaining side of the bridge could be taken down. This approach would ensure uninterrupted movement for two-wheeler commuters throughout the construction phase.

Minister Bains said that public convenience is a top priority for the government. He instructed the authorities not to demolish the entire bridge at once and to begin work by removing only one side while keeping the other operational until a safe temporary road is constructed.