(a) whether the Government are aware of the dilapidated condition of some bridges
in Thiruvananthapuram and Palghat division of Southern Railway; and
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government for the repair and reconstruction of
such dilapidated bridges?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA)
(a) & (b): There is no dilapidated bridge in Thiruvananthapuram and Palghat division
of Southern Railway. However, slight damage had occured to substructure of Bridge No.161 in
Thiruvananthapuram-Nagarcoil section and to Bridge No. 873 in Shoranur-Calicut section. The
details of damages and corrective measures taken/repairs done to these bridges are as under:
(i) Bridge No.161 was damaged due to illicit sand mining which has been prevented by the
Railways by developing watchmen; by doing rail barricading on the down stream side and by
dumping boulders around the substructure to improve foundation grip. The State Government of
Kerala is also assisting the Railways in protecting the Railway Bridge by seizing the trucks,
tempos and boats carrying illegal sand, by banning use of boats near the substructure of the
bridge and by taking criminal action against illicit quarrying.
(ii) The square return wall of abutment No. 2 at Calicut end of Bridge No. 873 started
bulging slightly. Rail support was given to the bulged return wall. Further, cement concrete
wall has also been constructed and the gap filled with earth, pucca pitching and necessary
repairs have been done.