PWD Minister Rajesh Munat on Wednesday said in the Chhattisgarh Assembly that the damaged Turkadih bridge of Bilaspur district is being repaired by the same contractor free of cost and will be ready before the monsoon season. Congress member Renu Jogi raised the issue during the question hour and asked the Minister when the construction of the bridge will be completed.
Munat said that the construction of bridge was completed in 2007 and remained in use for seven years. With detection of damage in the bridge, it was found not viable for traffic and hence traffic was stopped on it. Damage was caused to three spans of the bridge due excessive erosion of sand. Congress member Amit Jogi raised supplementary question and said that the bridge has 11 pillars and four liners were to be fitted with each pillar.
He alleged that not a single liner was fitted in the pillars. Jogi raised question that how was technical approval given for the bridge with potential risk with about 40000 people passing through it daily. Was any action taken against the contractor. Is any time limit set for completing the construction, he asked
Munat said that design and technical aspects of the bridge are approved by NIT. Action has been initiated against the then Executive Engineer and SDO and order has been issued to lodge FIR against the contractor.
‘Since construction of bridge is on priority, it is being constructed free of cost by the contractor who has given Rs50 lakh bank guarantee,’ said Munat. For time limit, he said that it will be completed before rainy season.