Work on main bridge to start after rainy season: Dr Jitendra
Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Aug 2: The diversion of traffic on National Highway 44 due to caving in of Tarnah bridge in last month’s flash floods has brought in its wake a plethora of problems to the people and transporters who don’t see an immediate end to the same.
Since the diversion of the traffic on NH 44 after the damage of the bridge about 12 days back, the trucks carrying essential commodities from other parts of the country for UTs of J&K and Ladakh face a tough time in reaching to their destinations as they get trapped in traffic jam for hours together on Dhar road and border road where from traffic has been diverted by the authorities after damage to the bridge.
Though the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) manning the NH 44, has started the construction of old and damaged causeway and road at Tarnah river adjoining the bridge to restore the traffic on the Highway few days back but the inclement weather and rainfall with increasing water level in the river is creating impediments in the construction work.
The diversion of traffic has led to enormous problems to the transporters and the Jammu –Kathua Bus Union which plies the buses in Kathua district has warned to go on strike in case an immediate solution to their problem is not found.
Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh who represents the Kathua Doda Lok Sabha constituency said that he is himself monitoring the situation and recently arranged meeting of BRO, NHAI and Divisional Commissioner to find an alternative. He said the option of platoon -bridge was ruled out by BRO on the pretext that since the flow of water is fast in the river it will get washed away in floods. The work on causeway was the other option and it has been started but rains are creating impediment.
He said there should be no blame game as some opposition parties are accusing the Government but they must not forget that the bridge has been constructed in 2008 when there was Congress Government.
He said he himself is in constant touch with authorities of NHAI and UT administration in this regard and work on main bridge will soon start after rainy season is over.
Kuldeep Singh, Jammu Kathua Bus Union president said that the consumption of petrol has increased by 25 liters per bus from Jammu to Kathua as the road length has increased besides the buses get trapped for hours together in long traffic jams on Border road where from the traffic has been diverted.
He said the border road is a single road and 16 tyre trucks create impediments in free movement of traffic on this road resulting in traffic jams. He said the transporters plying buses on this road have been put to huge loss. “We took up the issue with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu yesterday and have informed him of the problems faced by bus operators on this route,. We also made him clear that they (bus operators) will go off the route in case the problems faced by them are not addressed’’, he added.
Singh said that the work is going on the National Highway from Jammu to Lakhanpur for its six lanning and road has been damaged at many places but the transporters have to pay Rs 400 to 500 Toll Tax. Till the NH is fully restored the Government should at least give relief to passenger buses. Once NH is fully restored then Toll can be again charged, he added.
Moreover, the trucks carrying essential commodities to Udhampur, Kashmir and Ladakh are diverted via Dhar road after the damage to the bridge and they also remain trapped in the jam with the results they don’t reach destinations in time, said the truck operators. This way some sensitive items get perished in the way. Moreover with diversion of traffic via Dhar road the distance has increased by 50 kilometres which also becomes expensive for transporters, they added.
The NHAI authorities, admitting that the problems have increased, said that they are trying to construct an alternate causeway on war footing basis to ease the problems of the people.
“We have started the work on causeway over three days back but due to heavy rainfall today the work was stopped’’, said an official of NHAI deputed at site of work.
He said in view of rainy season the work on construction of damaged portion of bridge can’t be undertaken at present hence the work was started on causeway as an alternative for passage of traffic on NH 44. However, the incessant rains are creating impediment in construction work, said the official.
He said that NHAI could restore the Highway with construction of old causeway within three to four days provided the weather does not play spoilsport.
With the construction of causeway people, especially daily commuters and the transporters will get a relief to a great extent.
Since the damage to Tarnah bridge, the traffic was diverted to lengthy link road. Some of the vehicles were passing through the river on their own risk. The people were facing lot of trouble this way as vehicles were trapped in river water and also in traffic jam on link road. The NHAI has started restoration works and its men and machinery is working day and night to complete the construction of road and culvert so that smooth flow of traffic on this portion of NH is ensured.
The pipes were brought on site to be laid for free flow of flood water and concrete road is also being constructed in the river area for smooth flow of traffic. The NHAI engineers on job said that 32 big flow pipes were setup for free flow of discharge and if weather remains pleasant the whole works should be completed within three to four days.
When contacted, Project Director, NHAI, Yash Paul Singh Jadon said that the agency is on the job to restore the Highway provided the weather remains supportive. He said work on Causeway and patch of road at damaged bridge has been started to restore traffic on Highway.
Regarding construction of main bridge, he said the work can only be started after rainy season is over. He said the construction of main bridge will be completed within six working months.
The NHAI is on the job and the DPR is being framed about the cost to be incurred etc. He said that the bridge was damaged due to natural calamity and various options are being worked out for its reconstruction.
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