A critical bridge in Punjab's Nawanshahr district, connecting Rahon to Machhiwara, has become a ticking time bomb for commuters. Despite clear warnings from engineering experts that the structure is unsafe, heavily loaded tipper trucks continue to rumble across it, especially under the cover of darkness, with locals alleging they are transporting illegally mined sand.
Expert Warnings Ignored as Cracks Widen
The 20-year-old bridge over the Sutlej River, a vital link between Nawanshahr and the Ludhiana-Rajpura stretch of the Amritsar-Delhi National Highway, is showing alarming signs of distress. Residents report that cracks on the structure have visibly widened. The Public Works Department (PWD) had already deemed it unsafe, and a subsequent detailed study by IIT Roorkee last year confirmed the grave danger. The premier institute's report explicitly stated the bridge is unfit for traffic, particularly heavy vehicles like trucks and tippers, and recommended an immediate halt to their movement.
PWD officials have submitted these findings to the district administration and the Punjab government, seeking urgent intervention. Constructed at a cost of Rs 29 crore and inaugurated in 2005-06, the bridge's structural problems began emerging nearly a decade ago but were largely ignored. Executive Engineer Ranjit Singh Sandhu confirmed the bridge is currently unsafe and that heavy vehicle movement must stop immediately.
Illegal Mining and Nightly Truck Movements Heighten Risk
The peril is compounded by rampant illegal sand mining in the areas surrounding the bridge. Unpaved roads along the Sutlej riverbanks are used to transport sand, which is then loaded onto massive tipper trucks that traverse the damaged bridge. Sources indicate a shocking disregard for load limits: while the bridge was designed for 80 metric tonnes, vehicles carrying loads of 200 to 300 metric tonnes have been plying on it.
Local residents from villages like Mahal Gumana and Kanon express deep fear. Barjinder Singh of Hussainpur village stated that villagers have submitted written complaints with photographic evidence of the cracks to the district administration, but no concrete action has followed. "This bridge is highly unsafe. A major tragedy can occur any day if the government does not act immediately," he said, demanding a total ban on tipper trucks.
Enforcement on the ground appears weak. Locals allege that police presence is minimal and that the movement of these overloaded trucks intensifies at night, further escalating the risk of a catastrophic collapse.
Months-Long Repair or Complete Rebuild Needed
The path to safety is not a quick fix. PWD officials estimate that repairs, which would need to address several feet of damaged structure, could take months even if started today. However, the solution may be more drastic. Nawanshahr Deputy Commissioner Ankurjeet Singh revealed that IIT Roorkee has recommended reconstruction of the bridge, not mere repair. The original proposal for repairs has been superseded by this expert advice.
The DC acknowledged that instructions have been issued to the police to stop heavy vehicles and that the state government has been informed, as reconstruction involves significant funds. Yet, the trucks keep rolling. With expert warnings unheeded, illegal mining unchecked, and administrative action delayed, the Rahon-Machhiwara bridge stands as a stark symbol of apathy. For the anxious residents, the question is no longer if a disaster will happen, but when.
