Marching Through the Muck: Bridge Project for Delhi's Soldiers

A Delhi High Court bench has mandated the completion of a foot over bridge for the Rajputana Rifles soldiers in 10 months. A status report confirmed that all involved parties agreed on the timeline. In the interim, a short-term Bailey bridge will temporarily aid movement across the problematic culvert.

The Delhi High Court has taken decisive action to address the challenges faced by the Rajputana Rifles regarding their daily commute. A dedicated foot over bridge, intended to facilitate safe passage for soldiers from their barracks to the parade ground, is expected to be completed within 10 months, according to judicial directions.

A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Manmeet PS Arora instructed the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) to initiate the tender process for the bridge construction. This decision was made following a thorough review of the Delhi Cantonment Board's status report, which detailed the agreement of various government agencies to adhere to the construction timeline.

Meanwhile, a Bailey bridge, a type of portable and pre-fabricated truss bridge, will serve as a temporary solution. This measure comes after the high court highlighted the unsanitary conditions faced by over 3,000 soldiers, who have had to wade through unsanitary conditions four times daily.

(With inputs from agencies.)