Himachal: Rs 15 crore allocated for state’s longest bridge over Beas river

Himachal Pradesh: The central government has allocated Rs 15 crore to Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) to build the state’s longest bridge over Beas near Pong reservoir in Fatehpur assembly constituency of Kangra district. The 800-metre-long bridge, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 104 crore under the Setu Bharatam scheme, will be funded from the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). It will be constructed downstream of the Pong reservoir, connecting Sthana in Fatehpur to Sansarpur-Terrace in Jaswan Pragpur assembly constituency. Following the budget allocation, the PWD has floated tenders for the construction of this much-awaited bridge, which will provide seamless interstate connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

At present, residents of Fatehpur, Jawali, Indora and Jaswan Pragpur constituencies face difficulties in commuting due to security restrictions around the Pong dam. The new bridge will make their commute much easier. Vinay Kumar, executive engineer of Fatehpur PWD division, said that since the bridge will be built on Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) land, the department will have to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) before starting construction. “The BBMB has laid down specific guidelines for the project and the PWD will follow them. Efforts are underway to obtain the NOC and once the NOC is obtained, construction will begin and be completed within two years,” he said. He further stressed that apart from improving road connectivity, the bridge will also help reduce external security threats at the Pong Dam, ensuring better transport facilities and enhanced regional security.