Daijiworld Media Network - Chikkamagaluru (SP)

Chikkamagaluru, Mar 8: A bridge built across a state highway on which thousands of vehicles carrying lacs of people and lacs of tonnes of goods pass through everyday has crashed. There is no need to mistake it as an old bridge. This bridge was newly built, works on which have been completed, and it was about to be put to use when it gave way all of a sudden.

Curiously, the officials have cleared the pieces of the bridge which broke down overnight from the spot with the help of backhoes. The contractor has transported steel and other items used for the bridge, duly ensuring that it does not come to anyone's notice. On the next morning, the contractor acted as if nothing had happened.

This has happened on the state highway that runs through Balehonnur, Sringeri, Horanadu, Kalasa, Koppa, N R Pura and other places from Chikkamagaluru. A few bridges on the state highway are being built now. The bridge which collapsed now puts question mark on the resistance strength of other such bridges on this road.

This bridge was built across the state highway at Basavaravalli, a village about 40 km away from the district headquarters. The bridge was near completion and was set for inaugural in a few days. As soon as the bridge collapsed, the officials and contractors used JCBs to clear the spot in order to avoid getting caught for substandard work. People shudder to think of what would have happened if the bridge had given way when a bus packed with passengers was moving on it.

The bridge work was being executed by Nasir, a BJP leader. It is said that his shoddy work is now being concealed with the help of some BJP leaders. The contractor, supported by officials, has succeeded in clearing the bridge debris overnight with the help of machines. The steel bars and other things used for the bridge have been covered and kept some distance away from the eyes of the people.

A video footage showing the contractors and officials working to remove the bits and pieces of the collapsed bridge with the support of workers at night is available. The engineer concerned tries to paint a different picture altogether. The collapsed bridge at Basavaravalli smacks of substandard work and materials and no one knows about the current condition of other bridges being built across state highway 27.