Dehradun, August 30(HS): Rural Development Minister Ganesh Joshi has directed officials to undertake war-level efforts to urgently reopen roads obstructed by heavy rainfall and to expedite the reconstruction of damaged bridges.
On Saturday, Minister Joshi reviewed the status of rain-affected roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) with officials from the Uttarakhand Rural Roads Development Agency (URRDA) at his camp office. During the meeting, the minister also spoke with the Chief Secretary via telephone, instructing him to ensure concrete and swift action for the speedy rebuilding of damaged and washed-away bridges.
Officials reported that a total of 166 roads remain blocked across the state due to ongoing rains, with 142 in the Garhwal division and 24 in Kumaon. Seven bridges have suffered damage so far, with two completely washed away. Among them, one bridge in Sobla Umchiya of Dharachula, Pithoragarh district in Kumaon, and another on the Khod Baksir-Chhenagad motor route between Ran Dhar-Badhanitral in Jakholi block, Rudraprayag district of Garhwal, have been lost.
The restoration work on roads and bridges is progressing at full throttle, with 91 JCB machines deployed in Garhwal and 13 in Kumaon to clear blocked routes.
The meeting was attended by URRDA Chief Engineer Sanjay Kumar Pathak and other departmental officials.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
