Big relief to public as NHAI succeeds in raising culvert
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 22: There is a good news for the people of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts, as the temporary bridge (culvert), being constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) adjoining damaged Tarnah bridge near Dyalachak and Chadwal towns, on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway is almost ready and traffic is being restored by Thursday, if weather remained clear tonight and tomorrow.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a culvert type temporary bridge over river Tarnah near Dyalachak, on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway, is nearing completion. About 25 cemented big pipes of large dimension (1200 cm) are being used to raise temporary bridge over the river.
About 100 meters area was much problematic for the NHAI engineers as it washed away four times due to frequents floods in the river during last three weeks, after they constructed it by using tubes (pipes) of big diameter. Now, they have almost succeeded in their mission to raise concrete temporary structure (culvert type bridge) at this nearly 100 meters stretch along the old alignment of the highway which was in operation about 55 years ago.
Project Director, National Highway Authority of India, Jammu-Pathankote Section, Yashpal Jadon when contacted said his team of engineers was trying to construct temporary bridge over the river for the last about month but due to frequent flash floods during these rainy days, they could not get much success. At least 4-5 times, the tubes and constructed portion of about 70-80 metres washed away.
“Our engineers have now succeeded in raising culvert type bridge structure over this portion again. It is now almost ready. The approach roads are being created using machines. If, the weather remained favourable during tonight and tomorrow, from Thursday (August 24), the light traffic will be restored on this National Highway,” the Project Director disclosed.
Responding to a question, Jadon said it will be double-lane culvert, facilitating free movement of vehicles on the either side. From Thursday, only Light Motor Vehicles and medium public transport vehicles will be allowed. However, the heavy vehicles will be allowed after atleast 20 days as cemented structure needs some time to get enough strength to bear heavy load, Jadon added.
The PD said with this, the commuters using this highway will have a big relief as they were using old Samba- Kathua Road after damage caused to main Tarnah bridge on July 19 due to massive flash flood in the river. The buses will continue to use border road for some time. However, the trucks/ load carriers will be allowed after 20 days on this culvert, the Project Director maintained.
It is pertinent to mention here that long traffic jams were being witnessed along Old Samba-Kathua Road after the diversion of traffic from Jammu-Pathankote National Highway following damage caused to Tarnah bridge due to flash flood. It was troubling thousands of commuters and people of the area.
According to National Highway authorities, it may take at least 5 months to restore about 60 mt portion of damaged bridge on National Highway near Dyalachak. A team of experts from NHAI is also likely to visit this site in near future to suggest measures with regard to restoration work over the damaged bridge portion.
About 60 years old bridge on this river, adjoining the damaged one, has been dismantled for constructing another six-lane bridge for Delhi-Katra Expressway. This was the only bridge rendering service to the two-way traffic on this 4- lane highway.
The locals of the area alleged that due to heavy flood in Tarnah river, the base of two piers was exposed about two weeks prior to the incident on July 19. It needed immediate protection work. Some NHAI officers paid visit there before the incident but they avoided urgent protection work. Within next two days, heavy flood in the river caused extensive damage to the three piers and this 580 mts long bridge which was constructed hardly 12 years ago by ITD Cementation India Ltd, having engaged the consultancy, G-Engg Advisory Services, suffered massive damage.
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