10 months after collapse, new Nanda Ki Chowki bridge likely by June 30

Dehradun: Nearly 10 months after the Nanda Ki Chowki bridge collapsed during heavy rain, the replacement structure on Dehradun’s Chakrata Road is in its final stages and is expected to be ready by June 30, officials said on Sunday.The Rs 16-crore bridge is expected to provide relief to thousands of commuters who have faced prolonged disruptions since the collapse of the previous structure in Sept last year.The bridge near Nanda Ki Chowki gave way after the Tons river overflowed during heavy rain in Sept, disrupting traffic on the Dehradun-Paonta National Highway. The closure caused major inconvenience for commuters, including employees and students travelling to UPES and Uttaranchal University.Authorities later installed a temporary Hume-pipe bridge to restore connectivity, but it too collapsed after a dumper truck attempted to cross it, extending disruptions for several more weeks.The replacement bridge is being constructed by the public works department with funding from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Work began in Jan but missed its April 30 completion deadline.Residents said they hoped the bridge would become operational before the monsoon intensified.

“We don’t want to face what happened last year again. Every time it rains heavily, people here become anxious. After the bridge collapsed, even short journeys took much longer, and travelling to work became difficult,” said Mohit Thakur, a resident of Prem Nagar.“One of our biggest concerns was how ambulances and other emergency vehicles would get through during traffic jams. A permanent bridge is needed before the monsoon,” he added.Surjeet Singh, a shopkeeper in the area, said office-goers, traders and transporters were among those affected by the collapse. “Many businesses saw fewer customers because people avoided this stretch. Some even shifted their businesses elsewhere. We hope the opening of the bridge will bring things back to normal,” he said.