The dilapidated condition of the bridge on Chamba-Gaja Road continues to invite danger. This bridge which connects Chamba and Gaja along the Rishikesh-Chamba-Gangotri highway is in a damaged state which poses danger to the pedestrians and two-wheeler users using it on a daily basis.
The locals lament the fact that the Chamba Nagar Panchayat and Border Roads Organisation have failed to repair the damaged bridge even after several reminders forcing the people to risk their lives while using this bridge on a daily basis.
The bridge with wooden flooring was constructed by the BRO to connect Chamba with Gaja, Ranichauri and Badshahithaul villages. However, at present this wooden flooring of this bridge is in a dilapidated state. Pieces of wooden planks keep on falling which has not only injured people walking below the bridge, but has also created dangerously large gaps on the floor of the bridge.
School children who use this bridge daily continue to face a serious danger due to the gaps formed between wooden planks which had also led to the death of one person some months ago.
All that the Chamba Nagar Panchayat has done so far is banning the users of heavy vehicles from using this bridge. The authorities have done nothing to get this bridge repaired though the public has been facing danger while using this structure.
local resident Tilak Ram Chamoli rued the fact that due to the condition of the bridge the pedestrians regularly using this bridge continue to face the danger of injury or even death.
He said that the people of Chamba would be forced to take to the streets in protest if the authorities concerned fail to repair the bridge without delay. When contacted by The Pioneer, the officials of the Chamba Nagar Panchayat said that the bridge was under the purview of the BRO.
The BRO had been given repeated reminders, but had not yet repaired the bridge, said the officials.