The Garo Students Union (GSU) has written to the Public Works Department over concerns it has as to the deteriorating condition of a bridge on the AMPT Road, an essential lifeline for the plains belt.
Gaptuli Bridge connects various communities and facilitates the transportation of goods but there are clear signs that the bridge has experienced wear and tear, making it “unsafe for public use”, the GSU said.
According to the pressure group’s Western Zone, the bridge’s structural elements, including support beams and foundations, “have shown visible signs of decay and damage, cracks and corrosion are prevalent, increasing the risk of structural failure and potential accidents”. The amount of traffic the bridge has to deal with daily also exceeds its designed capacity.
The GSU also said that the bridge deck has been unevenly aligned and the bridge piers need to be reconstructed immediately.
It recommended a comprehensive structural analysis, developing a new bridge design that is stronger and that can bear greater loads using modern techniques, having the project fast-tracked given its importance in the transportation network, creating alternative routes while the work is going on.
