Dehradun – The Nanda Ki Chowki bridge on the Paonta Sahib highway in Dehradun, which was severely damaged due to heavy rainfall on 15 September, will soon be restored. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth ₹16 crore has been approved and tendering has already begun. The bridge, built in 1992 using an open foundation system, will now be reconstructed with a stronger and safer well-foundation structure. Officials say the bridge is expected to reopen for traffic within the next two to three months.
Since the damage, traffic movement has been temporarily supported using a hume-pipe based structure over the river, causing inconvenience to commuters. The abutment wall on the Paonta Sahib side collapsed due to the intense flooding in the Tons river, although the central pillars remained intact. According to PWD engineers, the middle piers survived because they were built using the well-foundation method, unlike the side walls which were constructed with shallow open foundations.
In the revised DPR, the repair design includes replacing the open foundation with a deep well-foundation reaching more than 20 metres below ground level, along with additional safety features. Officials believe that this change will ensure long-term durability, especially in monsoon conditions.
Experts say that well foundations are ideal for river and water-logged regions, whereas open foundations are suitable only for dry, stable land. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of long-term planning during the original construction, as national highway bridges are typically designed to serve for at least 50 years using rainfall and discharge data of up to 100 years.
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Meanwhile, work has begun to improve the approach road of the temporary crossing by laying tiles to make travel smoother until the main bridge is ready.
