Trimmu-Sindhai Bridge reopens after barrage of protests

Shorkot citizens faced inconvenience for last five months due to bridge’s closure

SHORKOT:

The people of Shorkot took a sigh of relief when the Trimmu-Sindhai Link canal bridge on Shorkot Cantt City Road was reopened to traffic on Friday.

The bridge was closed to traffic since it had become dangerous for commuters due to the weakening of its pillars which led to the bridge’s collapse.

Nevertheless, the alternative route provided to the people for their use during the closure of the bridge proved to be relatively unsafe for them.

The complaint the people of Shorkot made against the department responsible for “delay” in the completion of the repair work at the bridge as well as for providing them with “an unsafe alternative passage” during the time the bridge remained closed to traffic is highly valid considering the fact that the alleged apathy on part of the authorities not only highly inconvenienced the commuters but it also caused accidents in which several lives were lost.

The bridge remained closed for traffic for over five months, and accidents on the alternative route wreaked havoc for the commuters.

Over a week ago, a vehicle carrying seven members of a family fell into the canal, killing five of them.

A case was registered against the contractor. However, no arrests were made.

People had already been angry over the delay in the reopening of the bridge, and the accident that cost five lives flared their emotions up.

The authorities realized the gravity of the situation, and the administrative machinery geared up all its energy, working day and night as the public protests intensified.

A social activist, Irfan Mustafa, said that many lives could have been saved if the bridge had been completed on time.

Read: Crumbling bridge poses threat to users

He claimed that dozens of people lost their lives in five months and an equal number of people was injured when they fell into the canal while using the alternative passage.

Social circles thanked The Express Tribune for its coverage of the protest which became their voice and after which the bridge was completed and opened to traffic.

The contract for the bridge was worth Rs9.6 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2022.