A Signature bridge being constructed at the cost of Rs 66 crores collapsed in Rudraprayag !
While Uttarakhand is witnessing tremendous amount of fatal accidents during the monsoon, another untoward incident of a huge bridge collapsing at Rudraprayag built at a cost of Rs 66 crores like house of cards have shocked one and all.
Known as a hi tech signature bridge considered to be an outstanding construction and one of its kind in Uttarakhand being constructed by RCC developers at the cost of Rs 66 crores in Badrinath Highway, Narkota’ s tower has collapsed like a pack of cards surprising and shocking not only the entire state government but also the main opposition party of the state Congress who had always been trying to bring the saffron party government on hook.
According to news reports the signature bridge at Narkota’ Badrinath Highway collapsed at around 4 .15 PM with the company n officers of the project trying to safeguard themselves by claiming that only the tower of the signature bridge has collapsed whereas the foundation is very much intact.
According to a senior officer of the project the technical committee will go into the deeper details of collapse and will arrive at a definite conclusion thereafter to assess the actual magnitude of the loss and the negative impact it had on the entire signature bridge.
It may be recalled that several months ago on November 12, 2023 a part of the Silkyara Bend Barkot Tunnel in Uttarakhand have collapsed in which 41 workers were trapped inside who were rescued after several days of hard work after the intervention of the prime minister and his office. Though instead of cancelling the contract of the company for such a serious lapse there were reports of the company allegedly paying Rs 52 crores to the party fund through electoral bonds.
Meanwhile several locals have complained that the Signature bridge at Narkota’, Badrinath Highway has collapsed because of the negligence and inefficient n substandard construction with low quality material used in the project.
They have questioned the credibility of the company and have demanded cancellation of the contract of RCC developers and bringing another reputed company in its place to ensure durability of the bridge construction in future. Nearly forty to fifty workers were involved in the project. However no injuries have been reported in the collapse. This is a 110 metre long bridge and was considered as one of the unique known as Signature bridge. People are demanding that the contract of the RCC developers should be cancelled immediately and the company and negligent officers associated with the project should be penalised and asked to compensate for the losses from their own pocket.
