Baner River Bridge Delay Causes Hardship, PWD Faces Criticism
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Baner River Bridge Delay Causes Hardship, PWD Faces Criticism

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.

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.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Reliance, Diehl Advance Pact for Precision-Guided Munitions

Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch and Reliance Group’s Founder Chairman Anil D. Ambani have held discussions to advance their ongoing strategic partnership focused on Guided and Terminally Guided Munitions (TGM), under a cooperation agreement originally signed in 2019.This collaboration underscores Diehl Defence’s long-term commitment to the Indian market and its support for the Indian Government’s Make in India initiative. The partnership’s current emphasis is on the urgent supply of the Vulcano 155mm Precision Guided Munition system to the Indian Armed Forces.Simultaneously, the “Vulc..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Modis Navnirman to Migrate to Main Board, Merge Subsidiary

Modis Navnirman Limited has announced that its Board of Directors has approved a key strategic initiative involving migration from the BSE SME platform to the Main Board of both BSE and NSE, alongside a merger with its wholly owned subsidiary, Shree Modis Navnirman Private Limited.The move to the main boards marks a major milestone in the company’s growth trajectory, reflecting its consistent financial performance, robust corporate governance, and long-term commitment to value creation. This transition will grant the company access to a broader investor base, improve market participation, en..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Global Capital Flows Remain Subdued, EMEA Leads in Q1 2025

The Bharat InvITs Association’s industry update for Q1 2025 shows subdued global capital flows, with investment volumes remaining at the lower end of the five-year range despite a late 2024 recovery. According to data from Colliers and MSCI Real Capital Analytics, activity in North America declined slightly, while EMEA maintained steady levels and emerged as the top region for investment in standing assets.The EMEA region now hosts seven of the top ten cross-border capital destinations for standing assets, pushing the United States’ share of global activity below 15 per cent. Meanwhile, in..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?