Renovation of Pindi’s historical bridge initiated

Published May 14, 2020
Workers paint the railway bridge near Transit Camp in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. — Photo by Mohammad Asim
Workers paint the railway bridge near Transit Camp in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. — Photo by Mohammad Asim

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Railways (PR) has initiated renovation work to save the historical bridge over the main railway track that connects the city with cantonment areas.

Utilising time, as the country is still under partial lockdown and train service has been suspended, PR’s Rawalpindi Division decided to renovate the old bridge to restore it to its original form. The 135-year-old truss bridge, made with iron, is located near Pakistan Army’s Transit Camp and the Rawalpindi Railway Station. It has been in poor condition since the past few years.

Talking to Dawn, PR Divisional Superintendent Syed Munawar Shah said: “PR has started renovation of the bridge and it will be completed before Eidul Fitr. Thebridge has become rusty, sowe will paint it to save it from further rust. The road on the bridge has beendeteriorating for years and requires reconstruction.”

“PR contacted civic bodies to repair the bridge as it was being used by general traffic. After getting no response from Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation (RMC) and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), we decided to restore the bridge and re-carpet the road,” he said, adding that maintenance of the bridge was the responsibility of RMC and RCB.

He added that he had written letters to both civic bodies in the last two years but there was no response.

Work to be completed before Eid, railways official says

“The bridge was originally meant to cater to light traffic but presently, it is being used by heavy traffic. Trucks enter the city area using this bridge which forced us to repair it to avoid any untoward situation. Earlier, heavy traffic entered Raja Bazaar via Dhoke Hassu, Carriage Factory and Ganjmandi but it now enters the city via Marble Factory Road, Bakery Chowk and Transit Camp Road,” Syed Munawar Shah said.

We even hung warning banners over the bridge asking people not to use it for heavy traffic as it was dangerous, but all efforts fell on deaf ears of the civic bodies, he added.

Furthermore, RCB spokesman Qaiser Mehmood told Dawn that the bridge was property of PR. “It was constructed by Pakistan Railways and maintenance is also their responsibility, which is why we did not launch any work on it,” he said, adding that a joint team of PR and RCB conducted a survey, defining the limits of cantonment board and PR a month ago.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...