New bridge worth Rs 65-cr develops cracks

The bridge was constructed by the Uttar Pradesh Bridge Corporation, a state government undertaking, at a cost of Rs 65 crore and was a long pending demand of the people from area. The bridge, the longest over the Yamuna, developed cracks of about four sq mt diameter on Tuesday night. Traffic on the bridge has been banned, official sources here said.

A part of the funds was also provided by the Centre.The bridge had enabled the people to take a shorter route to Fatehpur and Kanpur and had also decreased the commuting time substantially.

Uttar Pradesh PWD minister Naseemuddin Siddique, who had inaugurated the bridge, has ordered a high-level inquiry into the causes that led to cracks in the newly constructed bridge, officials said.

The Congress, however, alleged that the inquiry was “eyewash” as the inquiry committee had engineers from the PWD department. Local Congress MLA Vivek Singh has written to the chief minister Mayawati seeking an appointment with her to discuss the matter.
Singh, who represents Banda in the assembly, alleged that sub-standard material was used in constructing the bridge and that Siddique had also benefited monetarily from the award of contract for the same.

“The Bahujan Samaj Party ministers and leaders are busy making money and were least bothered about the misuse of public money, ” Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Reeta Bahuguna Joshi said. She also demanded Siddique's resignation.