Assam: Contractor Withdraws from Jorhat-Majuli Bridge

Tender after evaluation of remaining cost of project: CM

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Finally, UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd has withdrawn from the construction work of the new two-lane bridge, including approaches, between Majuli in the North Bank and Jorhat on the South Bank of the Brahmaputra. The development has paved the way for re-tendering for the remaining works of the ambitious bridge project.

UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd has written a letter to the Director General of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, in this regard. In its letter, the company said, "… we hereby formally propose to withdraw from the project with immediate effect."

The construction work of the bridge has been put on hold since September 5, 2024. The works on this crucial bridge were put on hold several times earlier.

The work of this 8.25-km bridge, including the approach roads, was awarded to UP State Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd., Lucknow. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially launched the construction of this bridge on November 29, 2021.

According to the agreement of the award of works, the bridge was scheduled to be completed in 48 months (four years). However, only around 32 percent of work has been done.

According to sources, UP State Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd., which had won the award for the project, gave it to another construction company named BRC on a subcontract. Some sort of conflict over payment between the two construction companies, UP State Bridge Construction Corporation Ltd. and BRC, has its spillover effect on the construction of the bridge.

The conflict between them has come to such a point that BRC took away most of their machinery, materials, and manpower from the project site in September.

The bridge was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) sanctioned Rs. 925.47 crore for the construction of the Majuli-Jorhat Bridge.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on his social media handle, "Another hurdle has been unlocked for the resumption of the Majuli-Jorhat bridge. The existing contractor has formally withdrawn. Following this, a tender will be issued to identify a new contractor after the remaining cost of the project is evaluated."

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