NHIDCL rebuts report about cracks on under construction Wardha bridge on Doda-Kishtwar axis of NH-244

Kishtwar: The NHIDCL on Friday clarified the situation with accurate information against the recent reports circulating via local news agency regarding alleged cracks and damage to the under-construction Wardha bridge on Doda-Kishtwar axis of the NH-244.
It said that the currently under construction project adjacent to the old bridge at Wardha has encountered a temporary issue with the bottom PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) surface, which is not a structural component of the bridge itself.
The cracks on the PCC occurred due to heavy rainfall on March 29, 2024, and do not compromise the integrity of the bridge.
This temporary PCC layer was laid to facilitate construction efficiency (staging and shuttering for Superstructure Work) and will be dismantled after completing the superstructure, as part of standard engineering practices.
Additionally, the video circulated by a local news agency showcased the cracks on the existing bridge’s approach road is also misleading. The damage to the existing bridge’s approach road was caused by excavation work for the new bridge which was promptly addressed and repaired by the EPC Contractor of PMU-Kishtwar, NHIDCL, in collaboration with the district administration and traffic police officials on 27 September 2023.
The repaired approach road is now traffic-worthy, ensuring safe passage for heavy vehicles.
The circulated video has shown cracks on a sacrificial wall, which is a temporary structure and not load-bearing.
After constructing the new bridge adjacent to the existing one, both bridges will get connected by constructing a combined approach road.
The ongoing project works are meticulously supervised by experienced engineering experts, and regular inspections are conducted to maintain safety standards.
Also, the existing bridge has been load-tested by IIT Jammu in March 2023 to ensure its safety.
News agencies are advised to exercise diligence and responsibility in verifying information before dissemination to prevent unnecessary distress and inconvenience to the public. As fabricated or misleading news can harm public interest and undermine the efforts of organizations like NHIDCL.