Work on new rly overbridge at B C Road begins, finally

The existing bridge is posing threat to pedestrians, motorists

The 50-year old railway over-bridge located on the national highway in B C Road is in dilapidated condition, posing threat to passersby. Meanwhile, the work on the new railway overbridge adjacent to the old over-bridge too has finally kicked off. 

The railway overbridge which helps to connect B C Road-Bangalore and B C Road-Kadur national highway, has been damaged and the concrete slabs put on both sides of the bridge for pedestrians to walk have collapsed.

All the four pillars of the over-bridge are so weak that they may collapse anytime. It is also causing traffic inconvenience, leading to traffic blockades very often.

It could be recalled that a boy from the same village had fallen from the pit in the middle of the concrete slabs, into the railway track last year. The incident had invited wrath of the general public against the railway department and national highways.

Now, the situation has worsened and the bridge is filled with pits on both the sides. It is also causing an extra burden on the city police who are forced to stay at the railway over-bridge managing the traffic.

However, the long standing demand of the villagers to build a new over-bridge, finally appears to be heard by the authorities concerned. The railway department has come forward to construct new railway overbridges at Baikampady and Padil in Mangalore and one in B C Road at a cost of Rs 35 crore. Over 40 labourers are busy digging pits of 15 ft deep in B C Road for constructing the new overbridge. The new over-bridge with 9.5 meters width would facilitate two-way traffic movement in B C Road.

The new over-bridge will have the space to lay four railway tracks and there would not be supporting pillars in between the tracks.

Instead of middle pillars, eight side pillars will be constructed on both the sides. In the new over-bridge, the footpath arrangement for pedestrians will be made only on one side of the bridge. The work is expected to be completed within 14 months, say the sources.