Bridging the distance: Dhangali bridge over Jhelum River completed

Water and Power Development Authority has completed the Rs1.012 billion Dhangali Bridge over the Jhelum River.

MUZZAFFARABAD:

In a major development, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has completed the Rs1.012 billion Dhangali Bridge over the Jhelum River. After its completion of approach roads, the bridge, which is 45 kilometres from Rawat on the Islamabad-Dudial Road, is likely to be opened to traffic by the end of June this year.

The bridge is part of the compensation and resettlement package of the Mangla Dam Raising Project. The construction of the bridge was started in November 2008 and completed in a short span of two-and-a-half years. It is a pre-stressed, post-tensioned balanced cantilever box girder bridge with a total length of 340 metres. The bridge will accommodate two lanes with roadway width of 8.5 metres.

Mangla Dam Raising Project General Manager Rashid Ali Bangash said that construction of the bridge would open a new era of accelerated development for the entire region, as the bridge will provide an all-weather and all-traffic facility.

Additionally, the distance between Dudial and Islamabad will be reduced by 125 kilometres and a minimum of two to three hours will be shaved off travel time between the two towns, he added.

It is pertinent to mention that WAPDA is spending Rs12 billion on resettlement work for the of Mangla Dam Raising Project affected people. These include construction of New Mirpur City and four satellite towns near Islamgarh, Chaksawari, Dudial and Siakh having all modern civic amenities; Mirpur bypass, New Bong Canal Bridge and Dhan Gali Bridge. In addition, WAPDA had already completed compensation payments of Rs52 billion for the dam affected.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2011.