BRO rebuilt a bridge in Kashmir in 60 hours

The Border Roads Organisation added another feather in its cap by successfully constructing a 110-feet Bailey bridge at Kela Morh near Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar Highway in a record time of 60 hours to restore connectivity to Kashmir Valley.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed for six days after a bridge wall collapsed at Ramban on January 10.

National Highway Authority of India and civil administration had requested BRO to assist in bridging the gap. 

"99 RCC of 760 BRTF under Project Beacon undertook the task of launching a Bailey bridge to plug the 28m gap caused due to collapse of the retaining structure. All resources were mobilized overnight and the stores lying at five different detachments, were shifted at the bridge site by 2 am on January 14," an official said. 

"Led by Lt Col Varun Khare, Officer Commanding, the team of 99 RCC, comprising six officers, 10 supervisors and 50 labourers, worked tirelessly for 60 hours to launch a 110 feet span Bailey bridge, triple single reinforced configuration of load class 40T, in extremely challenging conditions and braving temperatures dipping to sub-zero during the night," he added.

The trial run of the bridge was carried out at 1430 hours on January 16 and then it was opened for regular traffic in the evening. 

The opening of the bridge brought relief to those who were stranded at different locations. The closure of the bridge had also led to the depletion of stocks of several essential commodities and food items in Kashmir.