E-Paper
No four-wheelers on Curzon bridge
ENTRY OF four-wheelers has been banned on the century-old Curzon bridge on the report of Railway authorities. In a compliance to Allahabad High Court order dated October 17, 2006 the administration has started barricading work at both the entry points on Teliarganj and Phaphamau sides.
ENTRY OF four-wheelers has been banned on the century-old Curzon bridge on the report of Railway authorities.
In a compliance to Allahabad High Court order dated October 17, 2006 the administration has started barricading work at both the entry points on Teliarganj and Phaphamau sides.
It may be mentioned that Railway Ministry in its report has stated that only cyclist, pedestrian and two- wheelers be allowed on the bridge.
In view of safety of the bridge, the court has directed the concerned department/ authorities to place barriers to ensure that four-wheelers did not use old Curzon bridge. Earlier, the court had asked the authorities to shift the present toll barriers to newly build Chandrashekhar Azad Setu. But now the Court said toll barriers need not be shifted.
Notably, the bridge was opened in June this year after a gap of over 16 years for use of light vehicles on the intervention of Allahabad High Court. In view to this besides two wheelers, cars and jeeps were also allowed to pass through the bridge.
Meanwhile,the railway authorities said the bridge's condition was not conducive to allow for any four- wheelers. Thus taking it seriously the Court banned entry of four-wheelers.
The court has clearly said that the dispute regarding title and ownership of the Curzon bridge site be got resolved between Central government/ Ministry of Railways and the State Government. It observed that the State Government has already sanctioned requisite amount but Forest Department is unable to carry out the work expeditiously due to resistance and objections by Railway officials.
In any case, Forest Department has to carry on development of the site as 'licensee' on behalf of the Ministry of Railways without prejudicing interest of the Railways in any manner. Ministry of Railways / Central Government cannot possibly have any objection as it will add to the value and simultaneously add to 'Ecology' and environment of the city and consequently a 'welfare' scheme of the public at large".
