6m wide hole in overbridge on Delhi-Jaipur rly line

GURUGRAM: A large chunk of concrete fell off the Gurugram-Pataudi Road overbridge (ROB) on the Gurugram-Pataudi side above the Delhi-Jaipur railway line on Saturday morning, leaving a sixmetre wide hole at the entry of the ROB.

According to locals, the sixmonth-old ROB was constructed in a haphazard manner, and the Public Works Department (PWD) is responsible for this mishap.

An eyewitness said that he heard a loud sound and saw blacktop road falling off the ROB. Pradeep Yadav, sarpanch, Pataudi Pahari village, said, “I was travelling towards Pataudi and was on the ROB when I heard a loud sound. I saw a chunk of concrete fall and immediately called the police and villagers to cordon off this area.”

Villagers in Pataudi said that this ROB is a key link between Rewari and Pataudi, and locals use this stretch every day. The construction of the ROB was initiated in 2016 and was supposed to be completed in 24 months, but the ROB was finally inaugurated in September 2019. Villagers said that within 10 days of its inauguration, they noticed cracks.

PWD officials said that they are looking into the entire incident and will investigate the reasons behind the collapse.

Puneet Kumar Narwal, executive engineer, PWD, said, “There has been a structural failure. We have not used any substandard material. We will investigate the reasons.” The two-lane ROB was constructed for ₹13,81,79,035 crore.

The police said that no one was injured in the mishap.

SOURCED Villagers said that within 10 days after the overbridge was inaugurated last year, they had noticed cracks on it and informed the PWD but no action had been taken.