news details |
|
|
| Risky 'Hamilton Bridge' crying for attention! | | |  Early Times Report
RAJOURI, Dec 15: Everyday thousands of heavy vehicles playing over a weak and unsafe 'Hamilton Bridge' of the district Rajouri, but district administration must be waiting for its collapse as they have failed to regulate traffic on the bridge, which had been declared unsafe for heavy vehicles by the Public Works Department and the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department four years ago.
Over 60 years old Hamilton Bridge of Rajouri is crying for Government attention from years. The heavy vehicles continue to ply on Hamilton Bridge over the Gurdan Nullah in the border district of Rajouri despite an advisory against its use by heavy vehicles.
Sources said that this bridge leading to main Bus Stand Rajouri, Manajakote, Poonch and many other adjoining places and it is was the only bridge which has connected Rajouri with other parts of the world during early Independence days.
A historian, said Hamilton Bridge was constructed by a pioneer company of the Military Engineering Services during 1947, when Rajouri was liberated from the Pakistani infiltrators. It was constructed for the smooth connectivity of the Army and area residents.
But, "Poor maintenance of bridge has damaged our vehicles due to the presence of big potholes," Amandeep Singh a local resident said. "I would think twice before playing vehicle over it as it becomes too risky for vehicular traffic."
"The authorities seem to be least concerned about the safety of the motorists, as there is no check on the plying of heavy vehicles on the bridge. Trucks and tractor-trailers cross the bridge regularly and the heavy traffic seems to grow with each passing day," said a commuter.
He said due to the crossing of heavy vehicles, traffic jams on both sides of the bridge were commonplace. "Sometimes we have to wait for several minutes for heavy vehicles to cross over to the other side," said a local resident.
The surface of the bridge has borne the brunt of the regular plying of heavy vehicles. While the bridge requires immediate repairs, the administration has turned a blind eye to the problem.
Apathy of Government is that they have turned blind eye to problem and playing blame game.
Senior official of the PWD Rajouri, said, "PWD has constructed this bridge over 60 years back but, later MES took over this bridge, but recently this bridge has been again handed over to the PWD"
He clearly took the responsibility of Traffic Police to regulate movement of heavy vehicles over it, as the department has issued warning notice of weak bridge.
"The proposal for the repair of Hamilton Bridge was submitted to the Government few years back, but without funds we are unable to repair the bridge, we are still waiting for the green signal." He further added
"The issue of upgrading the bridge was also raised in the district development meeting," Even after several reminders from the department, the Government is yet to take any decision, he said.
District Development Commissioner, Sougat Biswas said, "Bridge needs repair and we had instructed PWD to take this matter on priority." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
