Baner River Bridge Delay Causes Hardship, PWD Faces Criticism

24 Jan 2025 CW Team

As reported by Himachal Tribune on January 21, 2025, a bridge on the Baner river, located on the Daulatpur-Kharati road and meant to connect 15 panchayats, has remained incomplete for eight years, causing ongoing hardships for residents of over a dozen villages. The bridge’s construction began in 2017 after the foundation was laid by the late Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, but despite this, the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to make it operational.

Two years ago, the bridge collapsed due to poor construction quality, and work has yet to resume. In September 2023, PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh visited the site and instructed that the bridge be completed within a year, yet the project remains half-finished. Official sources say fresh bids for the construction have been invited and sent to the head office for approval, due to the failure of the initial tender process.

Kangra MLA Pawan Kajal has been vocal in his criticism of the PWD, highlighting repeated delays and the extensions granted to the contractor despite their failure to complete the work. Kajal, who secured a Rs 3.3 crore budget from NABARD for the project in 2017, has alleged that substandard construction led to the collapse and is now calling for strict action against the responsible engineers. He also urged the Vigilance Department to investigate the matter.

In response to the collapse, a four-member fact-finding team from the PWD was formed to investigate the incident. The team conducted an inspection, collected evidence, and recorded statements, but no action has yet been taken against those responsible.

Meanwhile, residents of the affected villages continue to face significant challenges, and public outrage is growing. Kajal has reiterated the urgency of completing the project and ensuring that such lapses do not occur again.

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