(a) whether cracks have developed in pillar numbers 20-21, 30-31 and 4 and 44 of 5.75 Kilometer long Mahatma Gandhi bridge on Cantilever system on the Ganga river in Hajipur-Patna section of national highway number-19;
(b) if so, whether there is a danger of closing down this bridge;
(c) if so, whether the Union Government is contemplating upon any scheme to repair the entire Gandhi bridge; and
(d) if so, the time by which the said bridge is likely to be strengthened?
THE MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS(SHRI T. R. BAALU)
(a) The cantilever arms of Pier P-4, P-44, P-21, P-22, P-30 and P-31 of the upstream (western side) carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi Bridge on river Ganga in Hajipur-Patna Section of NH-19 have developed distress. The rehabilitation work of the cantilever arms of Pier P-4, P-44 has been completed and opened to traffic. The rehabilitation work of the remaining cantilever spans of Pier P-21, P-22, P-30 and P-31
has been sanctioned recently and is being taken up shortly.
(b) Mahatma Gandhi Bridge comprises two carriageways, each of which was constructed at different times. Differential settlement at cantilever tips have developed in a few spans of the old carriageway on the upstream side. But the carriageway constructed later is open to traffic for both the directions. However, the bridge is under close watch to keep it open to traffic uninterruptedly for both the directions.
(c)&(d) Repair is a regular process and is undertaken as and when required.