PWD floats tenders for new bridge at Baddi

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, January 12

The Public Works Department (PWD) has finally floated tenders for the construction of a new bridge linking the Baddi-Barotiwala industrial area after the old Balad bridge was adversely damaged in the last rainy season.

The Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority (BBNDA) had earlier released Rs 4 crore to the PWD in September for initiating the work. The remaining funds will also be provided by the authority informed Rajiv Kumar, Additional Chief Executive Officer, BBNDA.

Sanjiv Agnihotri, Executive Engineer, PWD, while confirming the news said consultancy studies had been undertaken for constructing the new bridge for which e-tenders worth Rs 13 crore had been floated. He said since indiscriminate mining had adversely damaged the old bridge, additional measures such as laying of 20-feet deep foundation would be put in place.

Since the old bridge had a shallow foundation, its spans had worn off due to reckless mining and much had gone into devising measures, which would sustain the bridge for a long time.

In a bid to ensure professional work of the highest standards, contractors registered with the Ministry of Road Transport, would only be eligible to avail the tenders and once allotted, the new bridge would be completed in about 1.5 years.

The four spans of the old bridge had been damaged in August last year during the rainy season and a portion of the structure had sunk in. It was closed for the traffic for sometime, but was later reopened after some repair work. Constructed in 1970s, the 180-m old bridge had been facing an immense wear and tear in view of the movement of heavy trucks in the industrial belt as well as reckless mining at its base.

Since its foundation had worn off, a new bridge was required to be constructed as it was a key link to the Baddi-Barotiwala industrial area.

Bridge damaged last year

The four spans of the old Balad bridge was damaged in August last year during the rainy season and a portion of the structure had sunk in. It was closed for the traffic for sometime, but was later reopened after repair work. Constructed in 1970s, the 180-m old bridge had been facing an immense wear and tear in view of the movement of heavy trucks in the industrial belt as well as reckless mining at its base.Since its foundation had worn off, a new bridge was required to be constructed.