Repair work of damaged Dabhota bridge begins after year-long delay
The repair work of the 146-metre-long Dabhota Bridge on the Nalagarh-Bharatgarh highway, damaged during torrential rains in July 2023, commenced today. The bridge, whose middle piers collapsed during last year’s monsoon, is expected to be restored within nine months.
Constructed in 1999 as a joint venture between the Himachal and Punjab governments to benefit local residents, the structure is being repaired under a coordinated effort by both states’ Public Works Departments.
Punjab, where the damaged portion lies, initiated the repair project. Nalagarh MLA Hardeep Bawa stated that the repair would cost Rs 2.91 crore, with expenses shared equally between the two states. Himachal Pradesh deposited its Rs 1.45 crore share in May 2024, while Punjab awarded the contract to Hoshiarpur-based Kumar & Company. Of the 41.7-metre damaged section, 17.5 metre falls in Punjab and 24.1 metre in Himachal Pradesh.
The delay in repair work was attributed to the Lok Sabha elections and the Nalagarh Assembly byelection, which enforced a code of conduct. Bawa expressed relief that construction had begun, noting that residents had suffered significant inconvenience due to the bridge’s closure. They were forced to take longer detours via Ratiyor or navigate a makeshift riverbed route, leading to vehicle wear and tear.
To ease traffic, a temporary detour through a Rs 7-crore bridge on the Bodla Khad near Dabhota was opened for vehicles travelling between Punjab and Nalagarh. Meanwhile, industrialists in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area had protested the delay in April, highlighting challenges in transporting goods and demanding a new bridge in Dabhota village.
To strengthen the bridge, concrete walls will be installed on both sides. Bawa expressed confidence that the joint efforts of both governments would expedite the restoration. Residents and industrialists alike are optimistic that the repaired bridge will alleviate transportation woes and improve connectivity in the region.
