Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started the construction of an 85 metre long Bailey steel bridge at the site of Captain A Rahul Ramesh Valley Bridge situated on Swarigad river that connects the Indo-China international border and is important from the Chardham Yatra point of view.
The BRO has started the work of approach construction of the bridge in the first phase. After this, the construction of the bridge will be done in the next phase. Till the bridge construction is completed, the movement from Valley Bridge will continue on the Gangotri Highway.
Ratan Kumar Roy, OIC of 36 BRTF (Border Road Task Force) 392 posted in Uttarkashi, said that this bridge will be a double lane, along with one and a half meter footpath. He said that there is a sliding downhill zone near the Captain A Rahul Ramesh Valley Bridge. Therefore, because of the safety and convenience, the super-structure steel bridge is being constructed on the paved hill.
At the same time, the commanding officer of 72 RCC of BRO, Major Vinu VS said that the steel super-structure is lighter in weight than the RCC bridges. Also, it is eco friendly from an environmental point of view. The construction takes less time and the budget is also less. The maintenance is also quite simple. Following the construction of the bridge, it will be convenient for passengers and army movement during the Chardham Yatra.
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Valley Bridge was destroyed due to a cloudburst
In the year 2012, on 3rd August, a cloudburst washed away the existing bridge. After that, on 4th August, Captain A Rahul Ramesh from the 17 Engineering Regiment and a resident of Nagpur, was given the responsibility of building a new bridge that connects the Indo-China border.
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Captain Ramesh was martyred during the construction of Valley Bridge
Captain A Rahul Ramesh, posted in BRO, was given the responsibility of connecting Gangotri Dham with the international border. The construction of Valley Bridge was going on in full swing. Within 10 days under the leadership of Captain Ramesh, the construction of about 110 feet long Valley Bridge was in the final stage, during which some part of the bridge collapsed and the Captain got trapped in it.
During this mishap, four others were also injured with him, whose lives were saved because of the quick thinking by Captain Ramesh. The injured Captain was rushed to Harshil Military Hospital. From where he was airlifted to Bareilly Base Hospital but he breathed his last and made the supreme sacrifice for the country.
In the year 2013, Captain Rahul Ramesh was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously by the Government of India. Today, the new bridge being built on the Gangotri Highway over the Swarigad river has been named after Captain Rahul Ramesh.
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