Assam PWD planning bridge over Brahmaputra

* rengi-Kuruwa six lane bridge projected to cost up to Rs 2,700 crore  * Bridge  to  catalyze  satellite townships  to ease congestion in  city

BRIDGE FACTS

*    The six-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra will connect rengi near Guwahati with Kurua at North bank.

*    The 2.85 km cable–stayed bridge will be constructed by the State government through its own funding.

*    An expenditure ranging between Rs 2,200 crore to Rs 2,700 crore will be incurred in the project.

*    M/s RITES Ltd, M/s STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd and M/s Gifford India Pvt Ltd have been asked to prepare a detailed report on this project

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, May 21: The Public Works department (tiol Highways) is planning to construct an iconic six-lane bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting rengi near Guwahati with Kurua (at North bank) with a road link up to Dumunchowki on tiol Highway 52 in Darrang district. If it materializes, the proposed bridge will be one of the ambitious projects of the State government.

The most challenging factor is that the 2.85 km cable–stayed bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra will be constructed by the State government through its own funding and if necessary, loans will be taken by the government from other agencies, sources in the State PWD (NH) said here on Thursday.

“An expenditure ranging between Rs 2,200 crore to Rs 2,700 crore will be incurred for the completion of this ambitious project,” the PWD (NH) stated.

M/s RITES Ltd, M/s STUP Consultants Pvt Ltd and M/s Gifford India Pvt Ltd have been asked by the State government to prepare a detailed report on this project. The PWD (NH) stated that the construction of the bridge will likely to be started from October/November this year and the initial funding would be done by the Assam Infrastructure Fincing Authority (AIFA).

The AIFA has been constituted aimed at creating dedicated funds for major infrastructure projects in the State. Though Rs 3,500 crore has been provided in the budget since 2009-10 till 2014-15, Rs 1,400 crore was drawn and deposited in the accounts of the AIFA. This amount is in the Consolidated Fund of the State government.

“After the construction of this project, a major missing link in the State will be elimited. Places like Baihata Chariali, Sipajhar, Mangaldai and few others will become satellite townships of Guwahati, reducing the pressure on the city itself. Besides, a new green Guwahati can be created in the northern bank with a population of two lakhs with provisions of green industrial, commercial, educatiol and IT hubs and will make the city ready for the Act East Policy,” the PWD (NH) added.

Sources said the traffic burden on the Saraighat Bridge would be drastically minimized if the proposed bridge over the Brahmaputra comes up. “The travelling distance between Guwahati and the North bank will also be reduced if the proposed bridge becomes a reality,” sources said.

It all depends whether the State government will be up to the huge challenge of implementing this ambitious proposal, given the parlous condition of its finces at present.