Truck threat to river bridgesParadip,

Paradip, March 11: With stranded ore-laden trucks exerting “static load” on river bridges on the Paradip-Daitary expressway, the National Highways Authority of India has sounded a warning that the bridges may eventually collapse if swift remedial measures are not taken.

The NHAI authorities have shot off a letter to the revenue divisional commissioner (central division) and the collectors of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts asking them to ensure that the loaded trucks are not stranded on the bridge because of traffic jams.

In fact, the NHAI has sent a series of letters to the state government in this connection in the past one year. The latest communication was sent on February 17. But no visible action has been taken to address the problem, said A.K. Ray, project director, NHAI (Orissa).

“Uninterrupted load exertion will lead to the bridge caving in. It’s an exceedingly precarious situation as there is no let up. Two river bridges on the Paradip-Daitary expressway, which connects Paradip port with mineral-rich hinterlands, are under threat,”

The four-lane highway is covered by two bridges over the river Mahanadi. Both the old and the new bridge are bearing heavy static load as loaded trucks on their way to Paradip port get stranded on the bridges, Ray said.

“Recently, we issued a statutory warning to the state government as the safety of the bridge is at stake. The RDC (central) besides the collectors of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur were requested to ensure the safety of the bridge and people. But the scenario remains unchanged,” said Ray.

The river bridge is 930-metre long. Its structural design and load-intake capacity are not at all compatible to the static load.
(sourced from   telegraph)