Uttar Pradesh: Indefinite dharna continues in Shahjahanpur for opening Kolaghat bridge, people of more than 200 villages are affected due to closure of the bridge

Even after three years, the Kolaghat bridge in Shahjahanpur has not been opened for vehicles. Only two-wheelers are allowed to cross this bridge. The residents of Tehsil Kalan have lost contact with the headquarters. Local people are continuously protesting demanding the opening of the bridge. On Saturday, all the SP leaders of the district along with the Amla MP of SP demonstrated vigorously near the bridge. SP leaders have supported the people who are staging an indefinite dharna. Their demand is that the bridge should be opened for all vehicles after conducting a load test of the bridge. SP MP Neeraj Maurya said that the government coming to power in Uttar Pradesh is of the Samajwadi Party. Then we will get the bridge built, but the public will take its account from the BJP.

The approximately two kilometer long Kolaghat bridge in Jalalabad broke into three parts and fell down three years ago. After that, the residents of Kalan Tehsil lost contact with the headquarters completely. After that, the Patul bridge was built but due to floods, the Patul bridge was also closed. During this time, the bridge was repaired, but the investigation revealed that the bridge is weak. It could not be opened for vehicles. Now this bridge has been opened for only two vehicles. Only one bike can pass at a time. In such a situation, people living in Kalan tehsil are facing a lot of problems. They are also facing health and other problems. Local people have been staging an indefinite dharna for the last several days demanding to start the traffic on the bridge by getting the load test done. Amla MLA from Samajwadi Party Neeraj Maurya has reached the indefinite dharna along with former MLA from Tilhar assembly Roshanlal Verma and workers and supported them. Their demand is that the people of Kalan are facing the most problems. Due to the bridge not being in good condition, patients living in Kalan have to be taken to Farrukhabad instead of Shahjahanpur. If the people of Kalan have to come to Shahjahanpur headquarters, they have to travel more. Their demand is that the load test of Kolaghat bridge should be done and the movement of all vehicles should be started on it soon.

Let us tell you that in 1992, the then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav laid the foundation stone of the Kolaghat bridge in the SP government. The matter was shelved when politics happened. When Mulayam Singh Yadav became the Chief Minister again in 2003, the pending files were taken forward. The construction of the bridge started in 2006. But in 2007 the SP government went. Then the BSP government came and Mayawati became the Chief Minister. In 2009, the then Chief Minister Mayawati inaugurated it in Lucknow. In 2021, the bridge broke down and fell.

Let us tell you that not being able to start the Kolaghat bridge in three years is the biggest question for the leaders of the ruling party. Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Cooperative Minister JPS Rathore and Jitin Prasad were PWD ministers for about two years. The District Panchayat President in the district, all the MLAs of six assemblies are from BJP. From Rajya Sabha to Lok Sabha MPs and MLCs are also from BJP. These ministers and leaders are present in Shahjahanpur district. Despite this, the bridge that broke three years ago could not be opened for the public.