BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 3rd August 2024: : A newly constructed reinforced concrete (RC) footbridge over the Gomati River collapsed before its official opening, causing widespread anger and concern among local residents. The bridge connects Mohan Bhog RD block to Beniyacherra gram panchayat, suffered a catastrophic failure when one of its three RCC pillars gave way due to the heavy rains over the past two days.
The collapse occurred early Saturday morning, when villagers found that one of the pillars had sunk significantly below ground level, leading to the bridge’s failure. The rising waters of the Gomati River, swollen by recent rains, are believed to have undermined the pillar’s foundation.
The sight of the collapsed bridge incited anger among the villagers, who have long complained about the poor quality of construction. “The work on this bridge was substandard from the start,” said a local resident. “Less cement was used, and the rods were installed improperly. The casting of the pillars was done in the presence of water, which compromised their integrity.”
Villagers have accused local authorities and contractors of negligence. “We informed the village headman and members multiple times about the shoddy work, but no one came to inspect it,” said another resident. “There was no engineer present when the contractor cast the pillar. As a result, the work was of very poor quality.”
The construction of the footbridge was undertaken by contractors Shyamal Pal and Ripon Saha from Melaghar, with a budget of Rs 1,33,43,038. However, villagers allege that the entire project was executed in a substandard manner. “The RD office oversaw the work, but it was done in a ‘dunambar’ (sloppy) manner,” a villager remarked.
The collapse has prompted the residents of Beniyachhara Gram Panchayat to demand the demolition of the entire bridge. “We have been saved from a great danger,” said a community leader. “We will not allow any further work unless the entire bridge is demolished and rebuilt properly.”
The incident has highlighted serious concerns about construction practices and oversight in the region, with villagers calling for accountability and immediate action to prevent such occurrences in the future.
