Repair of Saraighat bridge under way on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Jan. 29: The Northeast Frontier Railway has started repairing the Saraighat bridge to prevent any structural crack on this first rail-cum-road bridge over the Brahmaputra.

NF Railway spokesperson T. Rabha said the repair and maintenance of the bridge, still being undertaken by the PWD annually, was now the sole responsibility of the NF Railway.

Workers started repairing the eight-metre-long road stretch of the bridge, over which hundreds of goods-laden trucks pass every day, from the Jalukbari end on Sunday.

Railway officials said the work would be completed within a week. However, it may not be opened to traffic soon after.

“Heavy traffic is one of the prime reasons behind the fast wear and tear of Saraighat bridge. Previously, the bridge was opened to traffic soon after the repair work.

“This time, however, traffic flow will not be allowed along the repaired stretch soon after the work is completed,” Rabha said.

A crack had developed on the approach road to the bridge two years ago after a small slab fell off. Rabha, however, said all fears of cracks having developed on the bridge recently were baseless and that its structure was in perfect condition.

Construction of Saraighat bridge had started in January 1958 at the cost of Rs 10.65 crore. It was opened to goods traffic in October 31, 1962.

Quoting experts, Rabha said the bridge was capable of taking the load of increasing number of vehicles if its repair and maintenance was carried out in an effective manner.

The city traffic branch has chalked out a plan for smooth management of traffic in view of the ongoing repair work. An official said additional personnel would be sent to Jalukbari police station to control the traffic, particularly on National Highway 37, as there was heavy traffic congestion on other routes due to the repair work.

“Many vehicles were seen stranded on the highway on their way to Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport. Traffic congestion was also witnessed in Amingaon close to the bridge. People have been requested to co-operate with the police in management of traffic,” a traffic official said. Delhi has already cleared a proposal to construct a two-lane road bridge over the Brahmaputra to ease traffic pressure on Saraighat bridge.