NHA issues Rs25m tender for repair of Ayub bridge

Torrential rainfall had damaged bridge last month

ABBOTABAD:

The National Highways Authority (NHA) issued a tender notice of Rs25 million on Thursday for the repair of the damaged Ayub Bridge on the River Door at Havelian.

The bridge, which connects Havelian with the upper parts of the country, was damaged last month because of continuous rainfall in Abbottabad district for five hours. Similarly, another small bridge in the same place that provides connectivity to Malla Waziran and dozens of other villages to Havelian city was completely destroyed due to which resident were facing immense problems. After the rains, the NHA officials immediately reached the spot and closed the bridge for a good deal of vehicular traffic.

During the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Speaker KP Assembly Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani highlighted the issue of Ayub Bridge where traffic has been diverted to a small bridge which is providing a link to the upper parts of the country with the reast of the areas.

Read Heavy rains damage Ayub Bridge in Abbottabad

PTI MNA Ali Khan Jadoon and Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani also gave a briefing on the deteriorating situation of the Ayub Bridge, which was the only source of connectivity between northern areas and other parts of the country on GT road.

Therefore, the NHA has issued the tender of Rs25 million for the repair of the damaged Ayub bridge on River Door after the visit of CM KPK Mahmood Khan.

Residents of Havelian, particularly the village of Langar, have demanded to immediately start the repair work of the bridge as the alternative bridge has no such capacity to handle heavy traffic.

Last month, flash floods entered several localities of Abbottabad including Bilal Town, Shahzaman Colony, Hasan Town, areas surrounding PMA Road, Kaghan Colony, some parts of Mandian, Supply and Jhangi. These areas had submerged completely under 2 to 4 feet of floodwater. Continuous heavy downpour coupled with the thunderstorm also stuck life in Abbottabad city and the surrounding area.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2021.