The so-called colossal development by the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi post-declaration of Articles 370 dilution and 35A as null and void seems to be too expensive and short-lived as could be gauged well by looking into the fate of Tarnah Bridge on Pathankot-Jammu National Highway (NH-44), whose one of the pillars sank due to recent flash-flood in the Nallah due to heavy downpour. This damage to relatively very young bridge as compared to many in the region built by governments of yesteryears shows that the party in majority is working in contrary to what it used to sermon as if the quality of the construction of this bridge was upto the mark, such common flood would not have caused such a colossal loss leading to disruption of traffic on strategic Pathankot-Jammu National Highway.
The uninterrupted flow of traffic on this highway is crucial not only from a civilian perspective but also has strategic importance. During past times of war, Pakistan has consistently attempted to destroy such vital bridges over the flowing streams on the highway, as it serves as the primary route for supplying defense resources upto Leh and Ladakh and remotest areas in Kashmir. Additionally, the damage to the Tarnah Bridge has imposed significant challenges for commuters, as they are now compelled to take a longer and cumbersome and narrow border road to skip the bridge.
Strangely, the Tarnah Bridge built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is one among the six bridges inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the Jammu Division hardly three years back in July 2020
Of the six bridges, four bridges are in Akhnoor sector and two in Jammu-Rajpura area.
The Tarnah bridge falls in Hiranagar area of Kathua district. The Tarnah bridge will connect more than two dozen border villages from Chakra to Tehsil Hirnagar to Jammu-Kathua National highway. The army convoys now have to take diversion to keep their movement intact.
Going by the statements of the leadership of party in power, corruption used to rule the roost during the tenures of successive regimes, but the fate of the aforesaid bridge which was still in its infancy stage tells the sordid tale of working style of the incumbent dispensation, which despite many such fateful incidents never minds in indulging into self-praise without counting number of incidents when bridges and flyovers constructed under its ambit have either caved in or fallen like house of cards.
It is surprising that when a very long stretch of National Highway is not available to the people travelling between Jammu and Pathankot, the toll plazas are charging full amount from commuters without any discount as if bumpy ride on NH44 and alternative road is a big achievement of the Government while people would take longer and tiresome drive.
Another point to ponder is that the dispensation never gets tired of boasting about bringing transparency, accountability and honesty in the administration but the case of Tarnah Bridge has unravelled every aspect exposing the pathetic governance model of the Government because after the damage to bridge there is no official word over holding of some enquiry to find out the causes of damages. There are bridges in the country which are centuries old and in working condition but these structures miserably exposed the official claims of raising reliable infrastructure that couldn't survive a seasonal flood within a few years.
The need of the hour is to rebuild this bridge on priority using quality material this time and also fix the responsibility and send those responsible for draining public exchequer to dungeons.
