LAHORE: There are 14 ‘highly dangerous’ bridges on the Shorkot-Wazirabad section where a bridge collapsed on Thursday plunging a special train.

However, the collapsed bridge that connected Alipur Chattha with Jamke Chattha was not among them, a Railways official associated with the Bridges Rehabilitation Project at its headquarters in Lahore told Dawn.

“Had there been any issue with the bridge, a full-fledged passenger train would not have safely passed through it an hour ago,” said the official who sought anonymity.

Headed by the federal government inspector of railways, a committee reviewed the condition of all bridges and declared 159 dangerous for rail operations after the collapse of Ran Pathani Bridge in October 2006 that suspended for five days rail traffic from Karachi to all upcountry destinations and vice versa.

The PR planned to complete rehabilitation of all these bridges during 2010-11 financial year at a cost of Rs412 billion.

However, so far 73 such bridges could be rehabilitated. “Work on 86 dangerous bridges is under way and likely to be completed by June 30, 2016,” he said.

Some 60 bridges were declared highly dangerous/unfit for operations in 2012-13 but the Jamke-Alipur Bridge No 278 was not among them. The bridges declared highly dangerous/unfit for rail operation on Shorkot-Wazirabad section were Nos 44, 57, 134, 145, 186, 201, 211, 212, 212, 227, 236, 238, 240-A and 302,” said the official.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play