The state PWD will engage experts to conduct a survey to assess the “health” of 11 bridges located in north Bengal, mostly on NH31, the principal highway that connects the region with the rest of the country.
Sources in the department said around four months back, a proposal to conduct the survey was sent to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) that functions under the Union ministry of road transport and highways.
Recently, the state PWD received an approval from the NHAI and has floated tenders, seeking applications from fir¬ms which are expert in maki¬ng such assessment of bridges.
“It will be an extensive survey and some of the vital road bridges of this region have been selected. We want to find out the overall conditions of these installations. The appro¬val has reached us and |we have recently completed the tender process for the |task. Also, the damage caused to the Balason river bridge has further underscored the need for such a survey,” said an |official of the NH9 division of the state PWD.
Among the bridges which will be examined, include |the 70yearold Coronation Bridge at Sevoke, the bridge over Mahananda river on |the northern end of Siliguri (a few kilometres ahead of |the Balason bridge) and bridges over Leesh, Ghish |and Chel, the major rivers which flow through western Dooars. All these are along NH31.
“Also, the Panchnoi bridge that connects Siliguri with Darjeeling along NH55 |(located on the northern end |of Siliguri) has been included in the list,” the official |added.
A senior engineer of the de¬partment said: “During the survey, present condition of the concrete structure, the soil, density of the river water and its flowing trend and in¬tensity of vehicular movement are some of the basic elements which the experts will in¬spect.”
Though the proposal was sent four months back, senior officials of the state PWD |had emphasised on the need for such a survey after a |torrential downpour on the third week of October in¬creased water levels of rivers and triggered landslides.
The swollen Balason river impacted the bridge also locat¬ed on NH31 and along the prin¬cipal entry point to Siliguri. One of its pillars got tilted and a portion of the plank sub¬sided, causing a halt in traffic movement for around 20 days now.
“In the hills, landslides have occurred in many places which are closer to bridges and culverts. It is also neces¬sary to examine these bridges to avert any accident in fu¬ture,” said an official of the state PWD.
Toytrains cancelled
Authorities of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway have cancelled the regular toy train service between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling from Monday (November 8) to November 15.
Railway sources said the decision has been made becau¬se of a cavein on NH55 betwe¬en Gayabari and Mahanadi st¬ations.
“A major portion of the hi¬ghway has caved in. Unless the road is repaired, it is risky to run toy trains through this stretch.” said a source.