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Officials taken to task for bridge repair delay

Staff Correspondent

DEHRA DUN: The Uttaranchal Chief Minister, Narayan Dutt Tiwari, has ordered strict action against the officials responsible for the delay in the repair of Sitarganj bridge on the Chikaghat-Khatima-Panipat national highway. A probe has been ordered into substandard construction of the alternative road there.

Mr Tiwari was furious at the officials for not securing funds for the repair of the bridge of strategic importance that collapsed during the last monsoon. "How can the officials relax after writing a simple letter for funds instead of making efforts at the right places?" he wondered. The bridge allows rapid access to the Nepal border besides being on an important trade route.

The Chief Minister ordered officials to immediately de-silt the riverbeds near bridges so that they were not damaged by fast currents. It may be mentioned that the riverbed has come up to dangerous levels under several bridges.

The PWD Minister, Indira Hirdeyesh, who was present during the spot inspection said that the local officials had been authorized to undertake repair of bridges without waiting for Government sanction. This had been done to cut delays caused by red tape and other factors, she said.

Ms Hirdeyesh asked the PWD officials to immediately restore roads damaged by landslides or flash floods. "The Government is laying a good network of roads and the officials should maintain quality and transparency. Any complaints about substandard works or inordinate delays will be taken up seriously", she said.

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Officials taken to task for bridge repair delay

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