Less than a week after the Barrackpore Bridge collapsed following devastating floods, a temporary bailey bridge has been opened to the public.
Local government minister Senator Kazim Hosein visited the area on Friday and met with residents who expressed relief that the New Colonial Road was finally opened again.
At Number 2 Junction, Eddie Surjan said even though the bridge was incomplete, he was thankful it was still open.
"My shop was flooded out and after the bridge started to cave my sales went down by 70 per cent," Surjan said. He noted that even though railings still had to be set up, he was pleased that the bridge was set up in record time.
Works Minister Rohan Sinanan confirmed in an interview that full paving of the bridge will be completed by Tuesday. Saying he was cognizant of the hardships, Sinanan said the bridge was set up within minimal cost as everything was done in-house, with assistance from the Ministry of Local Government.
He noted that the bailey bridge was wider and larger than the existing bridge.
Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein tours a bailey bridge at New Colonial Road, Barrackpore on Friday.
RISHI RAGOONATH
Meanwhile, Minister Hosein said even though the floods subsided three days ago, his team was continuing to distribute relief items.
He said the $2 million flood relief allocation was sufficient, noting that it was being properly utilized.