Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 7: Strategically important and first of its kind in North India, Basohli bridge over Ranjit Sagar Dam of river Ravi, connecting J&K State with the Punjab, just closer to Himachal border, is going to be commissioned in December this year.
Being constructed by the Project Sampark of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), it will be fourth bridge of its kind in the country after Worli in Mumbai, Hawra in Kolkatta and Nagpur in Maharashtra. It is the most challenging task before the BRO engineers to accomplish this task. Not only the Indian engineers and consultants, the agencies from Canada, Japan, Spain and Switzerland have also been engaged for the completion of this prestigious project by the BRO authorities.
Chief Engineer, Project Sampark of BRO, Brig B. Bhattacharya told the Excelsior that this 592 mt span and double lane cable-stay bridge at Basohli town of district Kathua is almost ready. “More than 75 % work on the bridge has been completed. The side concrete spans (121 mt each) on both sides have already been completed and middle span is also almost complete. The work of laying cables has been started and the bridge is to be commissioned by November or maximum December this year (2015),” Brig Chattacharya said.
When asked about the delay and jumping of two deadlines and also the latest one fixed as September 2014 for completion of this bridge project, the Chief Engineer said that during floods in September last year and again in March this year, some damage was suffered at the site and work was affected. The cable material after testing was being procured from abroad and this process was also time consuming. All the material has now reached at the site and the cable laying work is being initiated. The contracting agency has also given indication to complete all the allied work by November this year, he maintained.
Responding to another question related to non-completion of black topping of the 2 kms approach road of the bridge on Punjab side, the Chief Engineer said, that portion is yet to be completed while approach road on Basohli side is ready. He disclosed that immediately after monsoon season, the work of black topping would be taken up and finished within a few weeks, the Chief Engineer added.
Described as an engineering marvel in this part of the country, the foundation stone of this important bridge was laid by the then UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in presence of former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in May 2010. The work on the project was commenced in September 2010 and three year completion target was given to the agency. Due to some delay another one year time was given for completion and September 2014 was fixed as the new deadline. But it could not be completed even by March 2015. The official connected with the project claimed that in view of the procurement of specially designed cables from Japan and Spain, and their testing in Switzerland and then transportation to India; the project has been delayed by about one year.
Another BRO engineer said that being constructed with the cost of Rs 145 crore, this bridge will connect Basohli with Dunera in Punjab. This bridge will also open the flood-gate for the tourists to the picturesque areas of Basohli, Bani, Sarthal and Bhaderwah from Dalhousie and Chamba sides. The BRO/ GREF has also expedited work on Basohli-Bani-Sarthal-Bhaderwah road. As this upgraded double-lane road is completed in next two-three years, a large number of tourists visiting Himachal will also be attracted towards Bani and Bhaderwah through this important inter-state link. He said this bridge is also tactically and strategically important as per defence point of view.
Referring to the physical progress at this project, he said his 592 mt span double-lane bridge will have nearly 90 mt high towers on both the sides. Between two towers, there is 330 mt span, nearing completion, while 121 mt spans each, on left and right banks of the river (dam) have been completed. The high towers have been raised for the purpose of holding cable system and carrying load of the vehicles. He further disclosed that approach road to bridge from Basohli side is also complete while nearly 1.8 kms approach road from Dunera (Pb) side is yet to be blacktopped.
“The bridge is being constructed by the joint venture of IRCON and M/s SP Singla Pvt Ltd. Canadian agency Infinity, is engaged for supervising the critical activities of this unique bridge as experts. IIT New Delhi had approved the design of this bridge. Nearly 300 ton specially designed cables are needed for this bridge which are being procured from Japan and Spain. After procurement, the testing is being done by another expert agency of Switzerland,” he added.
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