Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 3: 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 river Ravi at Basohli, connecting J&K with Punjab, just closer to Himachal Pradesh 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, Howrah in Kolkata and Nagpur in Maharashtra. It was the most challenging task before the BRO engineers to launch this bridge over Ranjit Sagar dam on river Ravi. Not only the Indian engineers and consultants, the agencies from Canada, Japan, Spain and Switzerland were also 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 in district Kathua is almost ready. ” More than 96 % work on the bridge has been completed. The side concrete spans (121 mt each) on both sides have already been completed and middle span (350 mt) is also almost complete. Hardly 3 mt portion in the middle is under construction and it will be completed with in next two-three weeks. The work of laying cables is also almost over and the bridge is going to be commissioned in December, 2015,” Brig Bhattacharya maintained.
Referring to the delay in construction and jumping of three dead-lines earlier for completion of this bridge, the Chief Engineer said that the work was delayed for about one year as the work remained suspended for some time and its pace remained little bit slow for want of tested cables from abroad. The cable material after testing was procured from abroad and this process was time- consuming. He said at present the contracting agencies IRCON and M/s Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd are giving final touch to the work and by all means, they will complete it by November, the BRO Chief Engineer added.
Responding to another question, Brig Bhattacharya said black topping of the 1.9 kms approach road of the bridge on Punjab side is under construction while approach road on Basohli (J&K) side is ready. He disclosed that the work of black- topping has been started and will be completed shortly. There was delay due to non-clearance from Punjab Forest department but that hurdle has also been removed, the Chief Engineer maintained.
Officer Commanding 69 RCC of Project Sampark (BRO), Executive Engineer P K Roy said that being constructed with the cost of Rs 145 crore, this bridge will connect Basohli with Dunera in Punjab. He said this bridge is tactically and strategically very 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, 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.
As there are no pillars in between to support bridge, the entire load of the bridge and the vehicles moving on it, would be borne by 96 cables supported by two tall towers raised on both banks of the river Ravi. This bridge is strong enough to bear load of the vehicles of any specification. He said the work of raising crash barriers on the sides, raising grills and painting is left but is likely to be completed within one month.
He further disclosed that approach road to bridge from Basohli side is complete while nearly 1.8 kms approach road from Dunera (Punjab) side is being black-topped.
“The bridge is being constructed by the joint venture of IRCON and M/s SP Singla Pvt Ltd. Canadian agency Infinity, was engaged as consultants 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 have been procured from Japan and Spain. After procurement, the testing was done by another expert agency of Switzerland,” another BRO engineer said.
Described as an engineering marvel in the northern India, 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 extended for completion and September 2014 was fixed as the new deadline. But it could not be completed even by March 2015. The officials 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 was delayed.
This bridge may open the flood-gate for the tourists to the picturesque area of Basohli, Bani, Sarthal and Bhaderwah from Dalhousie and Chamba sides. The GREF (BRO) 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 may also be attracted towards Bani and Bhaderwah through this important inter-state link.
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