PWD directs soil test before construction work for Tallah

The public works department of West Bengal on Thursday directed companies who have expressed interest to build a new structure in place of the arterial Tallah Bridge to conduct soil tests before initiating any construction work, a senior official said.

Surveys have revealed that the 650 m-long rail over bridge, which has been closed to heavy vehicles for over a fortnight, is in a very critical condition.

A final decision on the demolition of the 57-year-old bridge in the northern part of the city is, however, yet to be taken.

The department is not taking any chance and is trying to complete all necessary work should any construction work be undertaken. As per the directive the findings of the soil tests should be submitted to the PWD within 14 days, the official said.

"Two companies have expressed interest in constructing a new bridge in place of the old Tallah Bridge in response to a tender floated by the PWD recently. On Thursday the directive was issued for them to quickly conduct a soil test below the Tallah bridge and to submit the report within 14 days," the official said.

The findings will be forwarded to chief secretary Rajiva Sinha who is heading a committee to look into the matter, he added.

The PWD department has already floated a tender for mapping the existing underground utility services electrical and communication cables to ensure that no service is hampered due to the demolition.

A decision was earlier also taken to conduct a study to assess the environmental impact of demolishing the bridge.

A RITES study had declared the bridge as "most vulnerable" and had suggested its immediate demolition. The bridge's decrepit condition was affirmed by a Mumbai-based company.

The state government has decided to sign an MoU with the Railways to demarcate each other's responsibilities in the maintenance of the bridge, official sources said.

The understanding is likely to be signed on October 25, the sources added.