Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 5: First of its kind in Northern India and fourth in the country, a strategically important bridge being built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), over Ranjit Sagar dam of river Ravi at Basohli, connecting J&K with Punjab and parts of Himachal Pradesh, is unlikely to meet September 2014 deadline.
After Worli in Mumbai, Hawra in Kolkatta and Nagpur in Maharashtra, this is the fourth bridge of its kind being constructed over river Ravi by Project Samparak of BRO, also known as GREF. It is also a unique, and of course, the first and a most challenging task before the BRO engineers to accomplish this project. Apart from Indian engineers and consultants, the agencies from Canada, Japan, Spain and Switzerland have been engaged for the completion of this prestigious project. This basohli bridge has been described as an engineering marvel by the experts in the field.
While the foundation stone of this bridge providing inter-state connectivity, was laid by the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in presence of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and MoS Defence P Raju in May 2010, the work on the project was commenced in the month of September in the same year. September 2014, was the completion target given to the agency engaged by the BRO for the task. But in view of the procurement of specially designed cables from Japan and Spain and its testing in Switzerland and then transportation to India, the project may be delayed by about eight to ten months.
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 area of Basohli, Bani, Sarthal and Bhaderwah from Dalhousie and Chamba side. The BRO/ GREF has also expedited work on Basohli-Bani-Sarthal-Bhaderwah road. As this upgraded double-lane road is completed, in next two years, A large number of tourists visiting Himachal would also be diverted to Bani and Bhaderwah through this important inter-state link. This bridge is also said to be tactically and strategically important as per defence point of view.
Dhar-Mahanpur and Udhampur road, parallel to Pathankote-Jammu-Udhampur National Highway is equally strategically important but with the construction of this double lane bridge, an alternative highway to Kashmir via Punjab (Pkt)-Basholi-Bhaderwah-Kishtwar-Sinthon Top and Anantnag will be available. The work on Bhaderwah-Chamba road is also nearing completion and is likely to thrown open to traffic in October this year, providing direct connectivity to Chamba in Himachal with district Doda in J&K.
Chief Engineer Project Sampark of BRO, Brig B Bhattacharya told the Excelsior that this 592 mt span double- lane bridge will have nearly 90 mt high towers on both the sides. Between two towers, 330 mt span is yet to be completed while, 121 mt spans each, on left and right banks of the river (dam) have been completed. The towers have already been completed for the purpose of holding cable system and carrying load. 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 completed as Forest clearance from Punjab State is yet awaited.
Replying to a question Brig Bhattacharya said this 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.
“We can not take any risk as the entire load of the bridge and traffic is to be borne by the cable system. After testing by Swiss agency, the cables are being imported to this place. This is also a time consuming exercise. About 50 tons of cables have reached at the site so far. A foreign consultancy has also conducted the seismic study for the bridge as the area falls under Zone-IV. This is a first bridge of its kind which is being constructed by the BRO in the country. It will be about 50 high from the dam and the main towers are about 30 mt down in the water”, Brig Bhattacharya maintained.
A highly professional engineer, who recently returned from the foreign assignment of three years in Afghanistan Brig Bhattacharya said, “Funds are no issue but forest clearance, land compensation and procurement of material from foreign countries are the issues which are time consuming. Though a deadline of September 2014 was set by the BRO itself for the construction agency, yet bridge is likely to be commissioned by all means in June 2015. The initial project cost of the bridge was Rs 145 and revised cost is likely to go up to Rs 148 crores”, he added.
Responding to yet another question, BRO Chief Engineer said that approach road to bridge from Punjab (Dunera) side is yet to be completed. The Forest clearance is awaited on 1.8 km road stretch. A compensation of Rs 67 lakh has been worked out and this patch will also be completed shortly. The work of laying cable system would be started after entire 300 tons of cables reach the destination, he added.
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