4-lane bridge over Banas River near Radhanpur and 6-lane bridge at Derol over Sabarmati River
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, June 23, 2024: Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel has granted in-principle approval of Rs399 crore for the construction of two new bridges on State Highway 55 in North Gujarat, aiming to enhance the state's road network infrastructure to better accommodate vehicular traffic. The CM has instructed the road-building department to ensure the timely completion of road infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction, strengthening, and repair of old bridge-road structures across the state. As part of this initiative, the CM has given in-principle approval for the construction of a new four-lane bridge over the Banas River near Radhanpur on State Highway-55, along the Radhanpur-Chansma Road in North Gujarat, with an estimated cost of Rs179 crore. The existing bridge over the Banas River near Gochnad village, which serves as a crucial link between Chansma and the border area of Radhanpur, was constructed 59 years ago in 1965.
Due to the aging of this old bridge, the Chief Minister has approved the Road Building Department's proposal to construct a new four-lane bridge, prioritizing road safety and accommodating future increases in vehicular traffic. The new bridge will be built adjacent to the existing one, aiming to eliminate the current traffic bottleneck. This initiative will significantly improve transportation for approximately 40 lakh people. Additionally, the Chief Minister has given in-principle approval for the construction of another bridge in North Gujarat. This involves building a new six-lane bridge over the Sabarmati River at Derol on the Mehsana-Himatnagar four-lane State Highway-55, estimated to cost Rs220 crore. The existing bridge over the Sabarmati River near Derol village on this crucial route connecting Mehsana to Himmatnagar was constructed 58 years ago in 1966.
Besides, traffic congestion due to the existing two-way bridge has hindered vehicular movement. Responding to that, the Chief Minister has authorized the construction of a six-lane bridge, prioritizing road safety and efficient traffic flow as the current bridge nears the end of its lifespan. The construction of this bridge is expected to significantly improve transportation for approximately 50 lakh people in the surrounding area. Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel has adopted an approach of allocating grants to the road-building department for the reconstruction of old bridges, strengthening of roads, bridges, and canals, and repair of structures to ensure robust road infrastructure in the state. To date, the state has allocated Rs113.64 crore for the reconstruction of 19 bridges, Rs166.77 crore for the strengthening of 126 bridges, and Rs2367 crore for the repairing of 2188 bridges, canal, and road structures.
