Collapsing bridges

This refers to the editorial, ‘Collapsing bridges’ (July 4). One cannot but agree with the editorial. The latest tragic train accident near Gujranwala and the loss of precious lives is indeed a reminder that all is not well with our existing rail and road infrastructure. Some of this infrastructure is in a dangerously precarious condition. The tragedy, as pointed out in the editorial, is that the present government is very keen to develop infrastructure and our development budget is all infrastructure-oriented. A lot of foreign assistance is also being utilised on ambitious development projects like metro buses, extending railway lines right up to Muzzaffarabad and expressways connecting all provinces and major cities. This sounds good but there can be a big debate on the cost and economic benefits and on what should be our main priority – roads or health and education.
However, even if we assume that building transport infrastructure should be our main priority should not we first utilise part of these resources for maintaining, upgrading and repairing the existing roads, railway tracks, bridges etc, and then go for new, ambitious mega projects? Ignoring repair, renovation and upgrades of the existing infrastructure and rashly initiating new projects is being too ambitious. The collapsed railway bridge was built in 1906. One wonders if it was ever upgraded to modern standards or the railway authorities were oblivious to its old age and its required upkeep.
Zaheer Ahmed
Islamabad