Centre’s Narmada bridge project a non-starter so far, state allocates Rs 350 crore to plan its own bridge

Gandhinagar, 18 March 2013

The Road and Building Minister of Gujarat today alleged that construction of proposed Zadeshwar-Bharuch river bridge has not started yet on national highway no. 8 connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The minister further said that the state government has proposed Rs 350 crore in its budget for initial phase of construction of a new four-lane Narmada river bridge, next to the location of existing Golden bridge in Bharuch district.

Our Bharuch bureau adds

It should be mentioned here that due to lack of a proper river bridge, the stretch near Bharuch faces very serious highway traffic problem. The traffic police is mulling following steps to ease the problem in absence of a new bridge:

-Zadeshwar cross roads and toll booth are responsible for traffic jam problem on Highway no.8. A tender has been issued for construction of flyover at Zadeshwar cross roads. Moreover those vehicles passing through the toll booth everyday will be given monthly pass from 1st April. This will make the traffic movement speedier.

-A seven km long road divider will be constructed starting from Golden bridge’s southern part to the limit of Ankleshwar town. The road and building department has given its consent for this. This divider will help to resolve the traffic problem on Golden bridge.

-A road over Golden bridge was in poor condition. This was causing slower speed of traffic. The road repair and level works have been completed recently.

-Hindustan Construction company has been given contract to construct a new bridge on national highway no.8. The survey and soil test works are over, however the task has been extended to June 2013. District Collector has written a letter to Delhi to speed up the work.

-Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways C P Joshi had laid the foundation stone of a Rs 550-crore four-lane bridge over Narmada river near Bharuch in May last year.