Ramkrishnagram- Khudirampur Bridge on Verge of Collapse: Residents Alarmed

Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, July 25: The age-old Bailey bridge connecting Ramkrishnagram and Khudirampur village is in ramshackle state.
According to information, the Bailey bridge which is crucial in terms of connectivity and commute for the residents of Ramkrishnagram and Khudirampur village was constructed by APWD, CD Diglipur during the 1992. However, since then the bridge was not repaired, a PRI Ward Member of Khudirampur village said. As a result of which, the bridge silently withstood the pressure of traffic for the last three decades and now no strength is left in it to further carry the burden of load of traffic any longer, he further warned. Realising this fact, a sign board which reads: Heavy Vehicle Not Allowed was erected close to the bridge-head by the APWD prohibiting the usage of the bridge by heavy vehicles and to pre-empt any untoward incident from occurring.
However, dilapidated condition of the bridge has caused severe commuting woes for the residents of these two villages, the residents rued. Since the heavy vehicles aren’t allowed to cross the bridge, heavy vehicle owners now have to take a longer route to reach their destination, they said. Even the light vehicle owners don’t brave/take the risk of driving their vehicles over the bridge, the villagers said.
The Ward Member further said that when the Bailey bridge was under the jurisdiction of Panchayat Samiti, retaining walls were constructed under it to support the columns of the bridge during the year 2005-06 and which were reportedly collapsed due to land erosion by nallah thereby further weakening the plinth of the bridge. When Andaman Sheekha Daily posed questions on the rundown condition of the bridge, the Samiti Member of Khudirampur constituency said that the bridge was handed over to the APWD, CD Diglipur for its reconstruction as the Panchayat Samiti is not capable of executing the work requiring a colossal amount which is far beyond the PRI’s fund capacity. Briefing on the current status and future of the bridge, Samiti Member further claimed that relevant papers are in Chief Secretary’s Office for further course of action.