Shimla: The Yamuna Bridge, which provides a vital link between Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Uttarakhand, needs immediate repair as there are signs of cracks, HP Minister Vikramaditya Singh told Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday.
Public Works Department (PWD) minister Singh, who met Dhami in Dehradun, discussed ways to resolve the pressing problem of shifting barriers near Yamuna Bridge at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district of the state and a traffic diversion plan needed for repair and rehabilitation, a statement issued here said.
Singh told Dhami that the Yamuna Bridge, which provides a vital link between Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, needed immediate repairs as it was experiencing severe vibrations during vehicular movement.
The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways had approved the rehabilitation of the bridge on December 22, 2020. Subsequently, the Himachal PWD awarded the rehabilitation work on September 18, 2021 with a budgetary allocation of Rs 1.44 crore.
However, there have been delays in the work because the bridge has to be closed for at least two months to replace the bearings.
Singh said a comprehensive traffic diversion plan is required to ensure smooth movement of people and goods during this period and to facilitate repair work. This plan requires immediate coordination between the two states so that the traffic diversion strategy can be finalized at the earliest.
He also urged Dhami to expedite the construction of the road from Naitwar (Uttarakhand) to Pujarli (HP), which is crucial for connecting remote areas during winter and monsoon season.
He said the residents of Dodra Kawar were isolated and lacked connectivity due to the harsh winters and adverse weather conditions. He called for expediting the pending construction of this route as it was necessary to ensure uninterrupted road connectivity during winters.
Later, the Public Works Minister established a telephonic link between Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Dhami and discussions took place on the recent disasters and the special challenges facing the two hill states.
They agreed to jointly raise these issues with the Union government, stressing the need for special attention to disaster-prone and weather-affected regions such as Himachal and Uttrakhand, the statement added.
Published 07. August 2024, 17:03 IS
