| Constructed in 2013, 4th Tawi-bridge damaged twice | | Is JKPCC compromising quality? | | 
Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 8: It seems that the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited is compromising quality, as the vital, fourth Tawi bridge, constructed in 2013 has been damaged twice in two years.
The bridge has damaged twice within two years, in September 2014 and June 2016. A portion of the approach road of the bridge was washed away after heavy floods in the Tawi during September 2014. The bridge had remained closed for a several weeks, merely after 21 months, the bridge got damaged again.
"The bridge was temporarily, restored in 2014, and was to be permanently restored, due delay in approval from government, restoration works begun in February this year", sources said, adding that the poor planning of the corporation has caused huge toll to state exchequer. "Due to malpractice, several crores for restoration works on the bridge has been spent so far", they said, adding that a high level probe need to be conducted to find out cause of damages.
It pertinent to mention here the Bridge was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, on May 17, 2013. "The bridge was constructed with the cost of Rs 147 crore, in two separate sections on Nikki and BaddiTawi near Tawi Island with total length of 750 meters", sources said.
The bridge provided relief to the people from traffic congestion problem at Jewel Chowk, Bikram Chowk and Dogra Crossing besides the ever busy Canal Road. The vehicular traffic from Pathankot side towards Akhnoor, Rajouri and Poonch was opened via old Ware House and Bhagwati Nagar, and it had minimized traffic at Jewel crossing and Canal Road.
"Washing away of the approaches has created an embarrassing situation for JKPCC which was awarded the project. The poorly constructed wall got damaged due to flow water, leading to washing away of the approaches, the same portion, that had washed away earlier", said an engineer, apprehending, might structure had been constructed so poorly that is being collapsed repeatedly.
General Manager, JKPCC, ND Khawaja when contacted said earlier, in 2014 the bridge was temporary restored, and works for permanent restoration was going when portion of approaching road, washed away again in June this year. However, the GM said that work would be completed within a week. |
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