New bridge on Narmada to be ready by 2016: Minister

August 12, 2013

Harish Joshi, TNN |

BHARUCH: Union minister of state for transport, road and highways, Oscar Fernandes visited Bharuch and assured that the much-wanted new bridge over Narmada will be constructed by 2016.Fernandes is said to have rushed to Bharuch after Ahmed Patel, politicial secretary to UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, expressed severe displeasure over the inordinate delay caused in the project.Bharuch and Ankleshwar residents as well as those travelling on the national highway 8 to Mumbai are facing frustrating traffic snarls due to want of a new bridge. It may be recalled that the foundation stone for the new bridge, which will complement the exisiting Golden Bridge and Sardar Bridge, was laid on May 1 last year.Nazu Fadwala, media coordinator for Bharuch district Congress told TOI: ” Ahmed bhai had written a strong letter to the ministry of transport, road and highways in the second week of July expressing unhappiness over the delay (in the project). He has also mentioned how people are suffering a lot in absence of another bridge.”

Addressing media persons later, Fernandes said, “The old Sardar bridge which is damaged will be repaired by October and made operational only for light vehicles. The new proposed bridge near Sardar Bridge will be ready in next three years. The tender process is in a final stage. Earlier, the contract was awarded to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) who failed to abide the tender conditions, which necessitated inviting of fresh bids.”

Fernandes said that the entire expenditure for the new bridge will now be borne by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) instead of earlier proposed built operate and transfer (BOT). The tender process for the proposed fly over near Mandva and Jhadeshwar crossing and service road are in a final stage.

The minister along with NHAI team and district officials first visited the damaged Sardar Bridge which is closed for heavy vehicles since five years due to want of repair.

The traffic congestion has become a routine affair on the national highway 8. In July alone, the stretch remained jammed for practically eight days.

Rajendrasinh Rana, district Congress president said “We have appraised Ahmed bhai about the nagging traffic problems and he immediately intervened.”

8 Comments on “New bridge on Narmada to be ready by 2016: Minister” Post your comment

  1. jayesh modi on September 6th, 2013 6:01 pm

    ple send me bharuch – ankleshwar joint all brige full details project with pitcher

  2. satrughna Maity on April 23rd, 2015 2:39 pm

    The sever jamming problem & waste of valuable time of people due to Narrow space of golden bridge & heavy traffic volume, only perceptible the people passing through golden bridge & the inhabitants of Ankleshwar & Bharuch, It is well new bridge is being constructed beside Sarder bridge for N-8 Highway still the New golden bridge is immediate required to console the people of ankleshwar & bharuch & total economic ,transpotation & industrial development of ankleshwar Bharuch Dahej ect.

  3. Parmar vipul on June 22nd, 2015 2:51 pm

    I am very extiret to see 3 bridge of narmada…gud luck

  4. milan patel on July 15th, 2015 12:03 pm

    Bv sars kam chale chw

  5. Raju bhai on January 7th, 2016 11:56 am

    Hello sir mai raju scarp wala ankleshwar se 9427131775

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  7. Sanjay on November 28th, 2016 8:18 am

    Agar bridge banana chalu kiya congress ne to uska shrey BJP kyun le rahi he

    I Am NOT supporter FOR CONGRESS OR BJP

  8. Alpesh on November 13th, 2017 4:10 pm

    Dear Sir,

    We faced same problem of traffic jammed after bridge start.

    Kindly check ypu management and resolve issue

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