New Delhi/Bharuch/Ahmedabad

Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Ahmed Patel has in a letter to Union Road, Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari urged speedy completion of river bridge on Narmada in Bharuch for smoother traffic on the national highway connecting Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Ahmed Patel’s letter dated 20th of January 2015, copy of which is attached with this article reads:

“I am writing to you regarding the construction of a new bridge nd heavy traffic on the existing bridge across the river Narmada on national highway-8 in Bharuch district, Gujarat. Given the heavy traffic on the existing bridge, in December 2013 the UPA government had awarded the contract for the construction of the new bridge to L&T on an EPC basis.”

“Since this bridge, forms a part of one of the busiest highway network in the country, I have consistently urged the then government to expeditiously complete this vital project, the foundation stone of which was by Shri CP Joshi, then Union Minister (RT&H) and Smt Anandiben Patel, then Revenue Minister of Gujarat Stat.”

“However recently I have been informed that the traffic condition on the existing bridge has worsened. At times there has been traffic jam lasting more than four hours.”

“I urge you to kindly ensure that the work on the new bridge is completed as soon as possible such that traffic on the existing bridge can be decongested and provide much needed relief to the commuters.”

National Highway no.8 is one of the busiest highways of the country as it connects our economic capital Mumbai with national capital New Delhi and is part of the “Golden Corridor”. While new bridge is under construction, the existing Sardar bridge is in a dilapidated state and under repair for last one week. Golden bridge which is the only other option to cross river Narmada in Bharuch is too narrow and over 100 years old bridge. It can carry side-by-side only two vehicles.National Highway No. 8 is otherwise a six-lane road and the traffic movement is very fast, but as soon as a vehicle nears Narmada river, it gets struck into agonizingly slowly snarling single road traffic resulting into traffic jams 24X7. It is a virtual nightmare for every commuter crossing this bridge.

This bridge project is special because due to efforts by Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Ahmed Patel who belongs to Bharuch, this project under the UPA government was approved as EPC project instead of BOT project. It simply means that there will be no toll tax collection on either side of the bridge once its construction is over, and Government of India will bear entire cost of the project, contrary to other projects that are toll tax oriented and developed by private parties.

Background of the project:

Construction of 4-lane bridge, repair of existing bridge and construction of approaches in 5.4 km were earlier awarded to M/S Hindustan Construction Co. on BOT(Toll) basis on an annual premium of Rs. 222.22 crore. However, financial close could not be achieved by the Concessionaire, as no bank came forward for financing the project, presumably on account of erratic quoting by the Concessionaire.

It was then decided by NHAI and MoRTH, in the interest of the project, to terminate the concession in respect of the construction of the new project. However, against the penalty liabilities on account of termination, the Concessionaire was asked to repair the existing old bridge. M/S HCC was assigned the job of repairing the existing bridge against the penalty which could have become payable on termination of the project.

Subsequently, the then minister decided that in view of the urgency and high priority of the project, this should now be done on EPC basis. As the project was earlier on BOT mode and now it was to be taken on EPC mode directly, approval of inter Ministerial Group(IMG) headed by Secretary and comprising representatives of Planning Commission, DEA and Ministry of Law was also required. After having approval of IMG, the project was posed before EFC(Economic Finance Committee) for appraisal. Bids were then invited after EFC approval.

When things were still not moving ahead in November 2013 MP and Bharuch native Ahmed Patel had in a letter to then Prime Minister said, “I have time and again brought this gruesome situation to the notice of all concerned including the Minister of Road Transport and Highways, who, by his letter dated 3rd July 2013, assured me that the old bridge would be repaired by October 2013. However I am anguished to state that the said assurance has not materialized till now and people are still suffering this atrocious torture. All the good works carried out by UPA government gets washed away from the eyes of those voters who happen to pass this spot on national highway no.8 and hence, I am constrained to seek your intervention on emergency basis. I may also mention that it will not be possible for me to remain a mute spectator while commuters suffer and will have to lead people’s movement against such apathy by concerned authorities if the work is not commenced on priority and no tangible solution materializes. ”

Construction of this bridge later started over a year ago and L&T has completed some work so far as per the details emerging from the ground.

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