By Sunil Sonker
Mussoorie, 2 Dec: The disaster in September completely damaged the main bridge connecting Mussoorie and Dehradun. To restore traffic, the Public Works Department constructed a Bailey bridge within 48 hours, but the temporary bridge has now become a major source of inconvenience. Due to its single lane, traffic jams occur daily, leaving travellers and locals stranded for hours. Locals say that neither police nor construction department personnel are deployed at either end of the Bailey bridge, causing complete chaos. Vehicles enter the bridge from both sides at the same time, blocking the road. Sometimes, traffic jams stretch for several kilometres, causing significant difficulties for hospital, school, and office-goers.
Meanwhile, the Public Works Department has completed all preparations for the construction of a new concrete, double-lane bridge at a cost of Rs 9 crore. Department officials say construction will begin soon. The new double-lane bridge is expected to completely eliminate traffic congestion in the future.
SDM, Mussoorie, Rahul Anand, stated that the Mussoorie-Dehradun road was severely damaged in the disaster, particularly near the Shiva Temple area, which posed a significant threat due to landslides. A Bailey bridge was installed to keep traffic flowing during emergencies. He added that the process of constructing a permanent bridge is now underway, and all formalities have been completed. The SDM also clarified that, in light of the ongoing complaints, the Mussoorie and Dehradun police are being instructed to take immediate steps to streamline traffic flow around the Bailey Bridge. Strict action will also be taken against drivers who violate traffic rules. People are demanding that traffic management on the Bailey Bridge be strengthened until the new bridge is completed, to provide relief from the long traffic jams that occur daily.
