Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Sept 23: Even as vehicular traffic on the fourth Tawi bridge near Bhagwati Nagar is likely to be restored within a week after temporary repair of the damaged portion, the permanent safety measures for the vital bridge will take a long time.
The repair work undertaken by the Jammu Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) for filling up of the damaged portion, which was washed away in the flash flood on September 6, is likely to be finished in next four- five days following which traffic on the bridge will be restored, official sources informed the Excelsior.
However, the damaged portion is being repaired only on temporary basis by filling and compaction work by the JKPCC Engineers for restoration of vehicular movement so that traffic congestion may be avoided, particularly in view of the forthcoming Darbar move to Jammu, sources added.
The temporary restoration work on the damaged approach road is going in full swing and the vital bridge would be thrown open for traffic, initially one way and then both way after a few days.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had inaugurated this Rs 89.05 crores 4-lane 4th bridge downstream of the existing bridge over River Tawi on May 26, last year. Its left and right approaches involve Rs 32.25 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively.
The formation width of the bridge is 21.06 metres, its carriage way is 2×7.50 metres, centre verge 1.20 metres, footpath 2×2 metres, crash barrier between carriage way and footpath 2×0.50 metres and RCC railing 2×0.20 metres.
This bridge was a great relief to traffic plying from Tallab Tillo, Bakshi Nagar and other areas along Akhnoor road one side and Gandhi Nagar, Satwari, Jewel Chowk, Dogra Chowk, Canal road and most of the adjacent areas on the other side.
On September 6 this month, massive flood in Tawi river following incessant rains in the region, washed away a portion of the Bridge approach road on Bhagwati Nagar side.
Even as there is no damage to the main structure due to flash flood, sources said that it would take a long time for permanent safety of the bridge though the exercise has also been initiated in this regard.
For assessing damage to the bridge, a high level team of Consultants from IIT Delhi recently visited Jammu and also held a meeting with the JKPCC officers to discuss the measures for permanent protection and long term safety of the structure, sources informed.
After the detailed meeting, sources added, a comprehensive proposal on protection measures along with the hydraulic data have been submitted to the Consultant agency by the JKPCC and the work would start only after considering all aspects.
Besides constructing a protection wall from the under construction barrage, which is at a distance of around 500 meters from the bridge, there are suggestions for adding one more span to the bridge but a final decision would be taken only by the Consultant agency, sources explained.
While pointing out the deficiencies in the existing structure of the bridge, sources said that the flood water breached the approach road not only because of unprecedented flow of 4.62 lakh cusec water in the Tawi on September 6 but also due to no protection work, which was left halfway notwithstanding repeated letters to the higher authorities warning a possible damage to the structure.
Since a protection wall is most vital for permanent safety of the bridge, it would also take a long time keeping in view the pending project of the barrage, which is in limbo due to paucity of funds, sources hint.
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