PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 28: Repair work began today on the busy Mango bridge ( Jai Prakash Narayan Setu ), which connects steel city Jamshedpur with NH-33.
Officials of the Mango Notified Area Committee ( MNAC ) said the bridge needs urgent repair.
During the repair work which is carried out by Tata Steel’s ancillary Tata Steel Utilities and Infrastructure Services (earlier JUSCO) round the clock from one of the two lanes of the bridge will remain open for two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers during day and night.
Heavy vehicles will be allowed to pass through the single lane during the night only.
The heavy vehicles including long-distance buses will pass through the Domuhani bridge connecting to NH-33 through Marine Drive.
Set up in the year 1995, the Jai Prakash Narayan Setu better known as the Mango bridge has developed gaps at five points.
Traffic department officials said as it is unsafe to ride through such a road bridge, they have decided to get the damaged portions kept by engaging the utility company.
Apart from the old Mango bridge, the old bridge that exists parallel will also be repaired in phases.
The repair work will result in inconvenience for commuters.
An awareness campaign is being carried out not only through posters and pamphlets, but the traffic department will also engage an adequate number of traffic cops at strategic locations so that people may not have to face hardship while negotiating the bridge.
Entry of heavy vehicles through the bridge would be restricted during the daytime for one month or so.
Notably, the Mango bridge assumes significance as it connects the city with NH-33 via the Dimna Road.
The bridge witnesses a daily traffic footfall of around one lakh vehicles including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers.
