GUWAHATI, April 4 - Preparation of detailed project report (DPR) on the ambitious six-lane road bridge project across the Brahmaputra, connecting Bharalumukh and North Guwahati, is nearing completion.
Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has engaged SMEC Consultant Group, a subsidiary of the Singapore government, for preparation of the feasibility study and the DPR for the project.
�The feasibility report has been completed and the work on the DPR is also on the verge of completion,� Dr M Angamuthu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GMDA, told The Assam Tribune today, adding, �the screening committee of the Department of Economic Affairs of Union Ministry of Finance had cleared the project on February 21 this year.�
The project outlay is estimated at Rs 1,890 crore, of which BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) financing is proposed for Rs 1,512 crore. The State government will contribute the rest of the project cost.
�Till now, a fund of Rs 520 crore has been provided by the State government for preparation of DPR and for meeting preliminary costs like land acquisition and rehabilitation,� said the GMDA CEO.
He further said the proposed bridge will serve as connectivity point between North Guwahati and Guwahati, and offer relief from high traffic congestion, besides planned expansion of the city to the North Bank.
�The project will be executed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Guwahati Development Department. Advertisement for recruitment of experienced project management unit is on process. The period for construction of the bridge will be four years for which engineering procurement construction (EPC) mode of global tender shall be invited,� added Dr Angamuthu. The total length of the bridge on the Brahmaputra will be 1,600 metres.
�Out of this, 1,240 metres will be designed as a multispan extradosed bridge with individual span length of 200 metres between consecutive pylons. The extradosed bridge has been considered because of superior technology which reduces the number of foundations in the river as against what is needed for a conventional bridge,� he said.
At the South Bank in Bharalumukh, there will be a Y-Junction with two rotaries. Junction 1 will meet AT Road near Bhootnath Temple, while Junction 2 will meet the MG Road at Sankardev Udyan Park near Pragjyotish Cultural Complex.
At the North Bank, the bridge lands 460 metres west of Aswaklanta Temple at Majgaon.
Dr Angamuthu said the project has already received clearance from Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
�The Environment Impact Analysis is on progress as per the terms of reference received from State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Assam. The district administration has already assessed the necessary land required for the project,� he added.
