DEHRADUN: After last year's Morbi suspension bridge collapse in Gujarat, the Uttarakhand government had ordered a safety audit of the state's bridges in November 2022 and 35 were deemed "unsafe". Significantly, in the latest safety audit this month, the number of "unsafe" bridges - both in rural and urban areas - has gone up to 75, with 15 in Pauri district alone. The state government has now ordered a halt to vehicular movement on bridges in "extremely bad condition".
PWD minister Satpal Maharaj said, "We are taking the required steps and damaged bridges will be repaired on priority." He inspected Malan bridge, a part of which recently collapsed during heavy rain, in Kotdwar on Thursday. Department officials have been directed to prepare a proposal of repair works and submit it to the ministry within a month.
There are 3,262 bridges in the state. Among the "unsafe" ones in the latest audit, apart from 15 in Pauri, 13 are in Dehradun, followed by Chamoli (9), Tehri (7), six each in Uttarkashi and Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar (5), Almora (4), three each in Pithoragarh and on the national highway, Nainital (2) and one in Rudraprayag and Bageshwar.
The state government has planned a project to replace old and dilapidated bridges.