Published On : Tue, Aug 2nd, 2022

Bawankule takes up issue of Kanhan bridge

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Nagpur: The Kanhan bridge meant for convenience for citizens is inoperational even after a decade. It has been nearly 9 years since a new bridge was built on the Kanhan river in February 2014. Political temperatures have risen over the issue.

The issue of Kanhan bridge not being operational has been taken up by the Congress and they are leaving no stone unturned in criticising their BJP counterparts over the issue. After the recent change of regime in the state, BJP leaders have now taken over the initiative to start traffic from Kanhan bridge.

The bridge over the Kanhan river has been constructed for 9 years now. Regarding this bridge’s construction, the then Sports & Youth Welfare Minister Sunil Kedar and Zilla Parishad President Rashmi Barve had issued directives to officials to ensure commencement of traffic on Kanhan bridge from June 26 2022 onwards. Due to the political developments in the state in the aftermath of the announcement, the bridge could not be inaugurated on June 26.

As per NHAI sources, a revised date of July 10 was given for the inauguration of Kanhan bridge, but even on July 10, no progress occurred regarding the dedication of Kanhan bridge to the public. It has now literally become a bone of contention between rival political parties. BJP office bearer Rinkesh Chavre along with Rajendra Shendre and Shailesh Shendki, former Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and other BJP leaders and office bearers submitted a memorandum and demanded commencement of traffic on Kanhan bridge as soon as possible.

Taking cognizance of the memorandum submitted by Bawankule, a letter has also been written to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and after getting the consent and date from him, there is a possibility of obtaining a new date for the inauguration of Kanhan bridge.

Kanhan bridge was initially built during the British era and has completed around 150 years. As per its specifications back then, the bridge’s life was supposed to be over by 1974 itself. For this very reason many memoranda have been submitted and protest demonstrations have been carried out by the then BJP representative from the area Sharad Donekar. Local citizens too time and again keep agitating and complaining about this bridge.

Administrative approval for constructing a new bridge was given during the tenure of former MP Prakash Jadhav. The Bhoomipujan of the new bridge in Kanhan river was done by the then Union Minister Oscar Fernandes in the presence of the then Ramtek MP Mukul Wasnik on February 25, 2014. But even after almost a decade, discrepancies still come to light often.