Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 28 Jul: Public Works Department (PWD) Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey has ordered a preliminary inquiry into the caving in of the approach road to Nanda Ki Chowki Bridge near Premnagar in Dehradun. Pandey has also assured of strict action against anyone found guilty of negligence or corruption in the case.
Pandey has directed the Chief Engineer of the PWD to conduct the investigation and submit a report within three days. He emphasised that the matter is highly sensitive and directly linked to public safety, and assured that strict action would be taken against any officer, contractor or party found guilty of negligence or irregularity. At the same time, Pandey has sought to clarify that the newly constructed bridge at Nanda Ki Chowki on the Tons river along the old Dehradun–Paonta Sahib highway remains structurally safe, though a portion of its approach road collapsed following heavy rainfall. He said urgent repair work is underway on a war footing to restore traffic at the earliest.
It may be recalled that the torrential rain since last night has washed away debris beneath a section of the approach road, causing it to cave in. While the bridge itself remains secure, the damaged approach road is being repaired urgently to ensure smooth traffic flow. The Chief Engineer has been instructed to not only oversee the restoration but also ascertain the reasons behind the collapse.
Pandey reiterated that the government’s foremost priority is public safety and transparency, and said that no delay in investigation or remedial measures would be tolerated.
Pandey has appealed to the public to remain assured that corrective steps are underway and accountability will be fixed once the inquiry report is submitted.
