Is Belagavi’s 110-year-old Railway Over Bridge safe?

Contrasting observations by Railways and Belagavi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The 110-year-old Railway Over Bridge in Belagavi city is allegedly not fit for use by heavy vehicles. Photo: P.K. Badiger

The railway authorities and members of the Belagavi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) have made contrasting observations on the condition of the nearly 110-year-old Railway Over Bridge (RoB) connecting Gogte Circle to Basaveshwar Circle in the city. While the BCCI claims the RoB is weak and dangerous, railway authorities maintain the opposite view.

Small-Scale Industries Minister and district in-charge Ramesh L. Jarkiholi, quoting the Executive Engineer of Public Works Department R.B. Damannavar, said here on Thursday that the railway authorities had inspected the quality of the RoB and declared that there was no danger from it. However, he immediately made it clear that it was the statement of the PWD officer who quoted the Railway authorities and not his.

On the other side, the past presidents and members of the BCCI and local residents have demanded structural audit of the RoB and ban on movement of heavy vehicles on it.

According to Basavaraj Javali, past president of BCCI and member of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and past president of BCCI Satish Tendulkar, the RoB connecting North and South Belagavi city posed danger to life and property. As per the PWD records, the British government (PWD U.K. then) had sent a letter mentioning the expiry of usable period of the RoB as 2005. Subsequently, the district administration, PWD and the Police department had banned movement of heavy vehicles from both the sides to ensure safety of public.

Ban rule violated

With the expansion of the city and growing number of vehicles passing through the Belagavi-Goa NH4A passing through the centre of the city, the danger was from the movement of heavy goods vehicles and private tourist buses, which continued to use the RoB despite the ban.

The condition of the bridge is pathetic, as it tilted downwards near Goodshed Road. Cracks have emerged at many points in between the joining girders and the RoB might not stand for long if the heavy vehicles continue to ply on it.

The BCCI members said the PWD should install sign boards to warn the heavy vehicles against using the bridge and guiding them to the parallel road; the traffic police on duty at the two connecting circles should take action against the violation of ban; and CCTV cameras should be fitted to keep a watch the movement of heavy vehicles on the bridge before it was late.