Army-built Bailey bridge opens to traffic at Dudhia

PRASHANT ACHARYA

SILIGURI,: The much-awaited Bailey bridge over the Balason River at Dudhia has been completed. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari virtually inaugurated the bridge from Kolkata, while Darjeeling District Magistrate Harisankar Panicker was present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dudhia on Wednesday afternoon along with officers of the Indian Army.

The motorable Bailey bridge was constructed by engineers of the Indian Army's Trishakti Corps, Sukna. The bridge is 200 metres long and 3 metres wide, with a load-bearing capacity of up to 9 metric tonnes, allowing the movement of light motor vehicles.

District Magistrate Panicker informed the media that vehicular movement over the bridge will commence from Thursday afternoon. He also thanked the Indian Army for its swift response in restoring public connectivity during the monsoon season.

Following the sudden collapse of the temporary hume-pipe bridge during heavy rainfall on June 18, the Indian Army's Trishakti Corps had initially installed a 34-metre pedestrian footbridge within five days.

Working in coordination with the Public Works Department (PWD), Army engineers completed the full-scale motorable Bailey bridge in just 19 days. The structure will serve as a crucial temporary connectivity link until the permanent multi-span bridge over the Balason River, being constructed at a cost of Rs 51.37 crore, is completed. The permanent bridge is expected to be ready by March next year.

The virtual inauguration from Kolkata was attended by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, Kurseong MLA Sonam Lama and others.

In a press statement, MP Raju Bista said the Chief Minister's immediate response reflected his concern and commitment towards the people of the hills. He stated that the speed with which the BJP government responded demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of the region.

Bista further claimed that such urgency and responsiveness had not been witnessed during the previous 34 years of CPI(M) rule and 15 years of the TMC government in West Bengal. He also expressed gratitude to the Indian Army, particularly the Eastern Command, for its engineering efforts and commitment, describing the bridge as an example of effective civil-military coordination in the service of the people.