PWD dept to to use automated mobile machines to assess the condition of bridges in the Darjeeling Hills

KOLKATA, 27 OCT: Following the Bijanbari Bridge collapse mishap that claimed 34 lives, the state public works department has decided to use automated mobile machines to assess the condition of bridges in the Darjeeling Hills.
A delegation of the Assembly Standing Committee on Public Works and Public Health Engineering will visit Siliguri and Jalpaiguri to undertake a study of some of the surface water schemes that have already been commissioned.
During the four-day visit that will start on 15 November, the Committee members will visit the sites of Jayanti Water Supply Scheme, Totopara Water Supply Scheme, Siliguri Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme and Siliguri Added Area Water Scheme, said an official.
Following the visits, the members will meet district magistrates, superintendents of police, sabhadhipatis and officials of Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Development Authority. The members will leave for North Bengal on 14 November. It may be recalled that chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee had directed the state public works department to carry out inspection of other bridges following the Bijanbari incident. Photographs of the structures beneath the bridges will be collected through the automated machines. The weak links of the bridges will be detected through this means and can be repaired soon. 

sns