1 2 Vadodara: Cracks and seepage in the old Shastri Bridge structure have raised eyebrows. This came to the notice of members of the opposition in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) after shopkeepers under the rail overbridge complained about seepage. The bridge was built in 1971 and is the oldest railway overbridge in the city.
It widened recently and with a span was added to it. The new span’s height was greater than that of the existing bridge due to changed railway rules. Officials said the new structure is as good as a new bridge next to the existing one.
With leaks troubling shopkeepers under the old portion of the bridge after the recent rain, they complained to the VMC and called Congress councillor Ami Ravat, who represents the area. Ravat inspected the bridge and will write to the civic body about the situation. “The parapet wall needs repairs and one can see cracks in the structure.
Water is entering the structure of the bridge and degrading the steel bars in it,” said Ravat. Ravat added that when the new span was added, some repairs were carried out on the old structure. “It needs to be examined again so that work can be done on it.
Use of the bridge has increased due to the construction of the new Atal Bridge. It needs a new span to replace the existing one,” Ravat added. In-charge city engineer Alpesh Majmudar said the cracks and other issues were in the portion of the bridge under the jurisdiction of the railways.
“We have written to them in J.