A significant setback has occurred in the ongoing efforts of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) due to a massive flash flood, which once again washed away the temporary culvert-type bridge that was under construction near Dayalachak on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. The flash flood in the river has now washed away approximately 100 to 130 metres of the recently completed 500-metre-long temporary culvert-type bridge. It is crucial to highlight that the damaged bridge was only 12 years old, and the adjacent old bridge had already been demolished to make way for a new one for the Delhi-Katra Express Highway. This situation raises questions about the lack of vision and planning in the entire process. It is clear that these seasonal nullahs swell during the monsoon season and have repeatedly caused extensive damage to bridges and road infrastructure. The NHAI plan to construct a parallel temporary culvert-type bridge also appears to lack adequate planning. This is the second time that the under-construction bridge has been washed away, and there is no guarantee that it won’t happen again in the future.
At the same time, the repairs or reconstruction of the damaged bridge seem to be nowhere in sight, despite a considerable amount of time having passed. This diversion of traffic to much longer routes is causing traffic snarls and significant economic losses. The government should consider alternative plans, such as building an iron-girder bridge. If the assistance of the army is required, it should be sought. The Jammu-Lakhanpur highway is one of the busiest in Northern India, and issues like these cannot be left unresolved for an extended period. An alternative bridge, if provided, can resolve the traffic issue until the damaged bridge gets repaired, which, as suggested by NHAI, will take another six months. The current alternative traffic management has already caused enough hardship and resentment among the people. Swift and well-thought-out actions are needed to address this critical infrastructure challenge.
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