Bathu Bridge will be constructed in a month, asserts HP

Dharamshala, Aug 6 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Government today asserted that the vital Bathu Bridge, connecting Kangra district with Una and Hamirpur districts, will be constructed within a month.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Bharat Khera said a detailed drawing and detailed project report (DPR) was being prepared for the reconstruction of the bridge, for which the Centre has sanctioned Rs four crore.

National Highway 88 Executive Engineer has been directed to take necessary action for expediting the construction of the new bridge, he said.

The 86-year-old Bathu Bridge, which connected the district with Una and Hamirpur, collapsed early yesterday morning following incessant rains.

The bridge had overlived its life but was still being used in the absence of another bridge over the Bathu Khad.

Meanwhile, the traffic has been diverted via Lunj and Baroh, which has increased the distance by another 33 km.

The distance between Kangra Valley and Ranital via Lunj and Badoh link road was 50 km as against 17 km via the bridge.

An HRTC driver said it was now taking them nearly two hours to reach Ranital via Lunj with hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road, which is a link-road.

HRTC Managing Director Shrikant Baldi denied reports that the bus fare between Kangra Valley and Ranital will be hiked as the distance between the places had increased following the collapse of the bridge.

UNI XC AS JN DH KP0426