BAHAWALPUR: The Panjnad Headworks bridge on the national highway between Uch Sharif and Alipur towns, about 70km from here, has been closed for all kinds of traffic for an indefinite period.

This was stated by Panjnad Headworks (Bahawalpur) Irrigation EXEN Samar Iqbal while talking to Dawn on Monday.

He said that on his recommendation, the bridge had been closed by the department of highways of Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan due to its dangerous condition.

An important link between Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi, the route is preferred by vehicular traffic for being short than other routes. The headworks was built around 1932. The bridge has been repaired several times by the highways department but presently it is in shabby condition. A number of cracks and potholes have also appeared it.

Mr Iqbal said the police, highways and irrigation departments were taken on board regarding the decision of the bridge’s closure. He said that with the closure of the bridge, all sorts of the traffic had been diverted towards three other routes -- Uch Sharif-Jalalpur Peerwala, Kote Mithan and Bahawalpur --until the repair of the bridge by the highways department.

Muzzafargarh highways maintenance and repair (M&R division) XEN Dilshad Ahmed told Dawn by phone a proposal for the repair/renovation of the damaged bridge had been forwarded to the chief engineer (CE) for allocation of funds. He said the repair work would start as soon as the funds were allocated.

Dawn learnt with the change of the government in Punjab, the approval of the proposal and allocation for funds might take some time as the official works had come to a standstill. The bridge might remain closed for months, creating problems for the travelers.

I-DAY: Arrangements have been made to celebrate the Independence Day at the deputy commissioner’s office, Bahawalpur bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) and municipal corporation where flag-hoisting ceremonies will be organised.

The city, including bazaars, are wearing a festive look with the multicoloured banners and flags.

Divisional Commissioner Nayyar Iqbal along with Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ayub Khan on Monday cut a cake at Khidmat Centre to celebrate the occasion and inaugurated Jashn-i-Azadi Craft Mela at Bahawalpur Arts Council’s Rashadia Hall. Private and government buildings would be illuminated at night.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018