By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jul: The reconstruction quality of the Rs 16 crore Nanda Ki Chowki bridge project near Premnagar in Dehradun has come under serious scrutiny after the approach road to the newly rebuilt bridge caved in during the first spell of heavy monsoon rain, barely a little over two weeks after the structure was opened to traffic. Although the district administration has clarified that the bridge itself remains structurally safe and that only the approach road was damaged, the incident nevertheless does raise uncomfortable questions over the quality of the reconstruction work, the stability of the approach embankment and the apparent haste with which the bridge was reopened for public use.
The bridge, located on the National Highway near Nanda Ki Chowki on the old Dehradun-Paonta Sahib route, was reconstructed at a cost of around Rs 16 crores after the previous bridge was washed away during last year’s monsoon. The newly reconstructed bridge was opened to traffic in mid-July following the collapse of a temporary Hume pipe culvert, which had been serving commuters for several months. However, within just over two weeks of its reopening, a large and potentially dangerous cavity developed beneath the approach road after incessant overnight rain this morning, forcing the authorities to suspend vehicular movement as a precautionary measure.
The incident has once again disrupted road connectivity between the area and Dehradun and has reignited concerns among local residents regarding the durability of the reconstruction work. Serious questions have arisen as to how a project involving such a substantial public investment can witness serious damage during the very first major spell of rain. Even if the bridge deck and its structural components remain intact, the failure of the approach road so soon after completion has inevitably brought the quality of execution, engineering design and supervision under the spotlight.
At the same time, however, the district administration dismissed some viral reports claiming that the bridge had collapsed as factually incorrect. According to the administration and Prem Nagar Police, the bridge itself has suffered no structural damage. The officials said that continuous heavy rainfall washed away the soil beneath the approach road, causing a section of the road to cave in while leaving the bridge structure unaffected. They appealed to the public not to pay heed to rumours or unverified reports and to rely only on official information.
Prem Nagar Police said that immediately after receiving information this morning regarding damage near the bridge, a police team rushed to the site and found the bridge to be completely safe. The inspection revealed that heavy rainfall had eroded the soil beneath the approach road, resulting in damage to the roadway. The executing agency concerned has begun restoration work and the route is expected to be reopened after repairs are completed.
PWD Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey stated that the newly constructed bridge at Nanda ki Chowki in Dehradun is completely safe. A section of the bridge’s approach road collapsed due to heavy rainfall, and repair work is being carried out on a war footing. He added that the heavy rain last night caused debris to wash away from beneath a part of the approach road, leading to subsidence at one spot. He reiterated that the newly constructed bridge itself is entirely safe and that efforts are underway to restore traffic by repairing the approach road on a war footing.
District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan also rushed to the site along with a team of technical engineers and inspected the damaged approach wall and road. Taking serious note of the incident, he directed the officials to restore the damaged portion within a few hours. The Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department and engineers from the Central Public Works Department were directed by him to remain at the site and prepare a detailed technical report.
Speaking to media persons, the District Magistrate said that a cavity had developed in the bridge approach road due to the heavy rain and instructed officials to complete restoration work on priority. He added that the Chief Engineers of both the PWD and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) were examining the site and preparing a report. He also made it clear that if any departmental officials were found responsible for negligence or deficiencies in the work, strict action would be taken against them.
It may be recalled that on the night of 15 September, 2025, the original bridge at Nanda Ki Chowki had suffered severe damage after its abutment wall and one slab were washed away. To restore connectivity, the PWD had constructed a temporary Hume pipe bridge, which remained in service for nearly ten months. However, that temporary crossing too caved in on the night of 11 July this year under the force of the swollen Tons River.
Following the collapse of the temporary structure, the authorities accelerated the final stages of the bridge reconstruction and opened the newly rebuilt bridge to traffic almost immediately. While the urgency to restore connectivity is understandable, the latest failure of the approach road has inevitably led to questions over whether the project was commissioned before all stabilisation and protection works had been adequately completed. Questions arise if sufficient attention had been paid to the drainage arrangements, soil compaction, retaining structures and monsoon resilience during the construction of the approach road.
At the same time the officials emphasise that the damage is confined to the approach road and not to the bridge itself, and restoration work is being carried out on a war footing.
