Palasbari-Sualkuchi bridge over Brahmaputra inching towards reality

 PWD floats tenders; project length is 12.21 km

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: With the State Government floating the initial tender (first phase tender), the much-hyped bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Palasbari and Sualkuchi in lower Assam is inching towards reality.

On behalf of the State Government, Assam PWD (Externally Aided Project, or EAP) will execute the project with loans from the New Development Bank (NDB). With a view to starting the work instantly, PWD (EAP) divided the tender into two phases: the pre-qualification of contractors, or the first phase of the tender, and the final bidding, including the financial bidding.

The Chief Engineer, PWD-EAP, intends to pre-qualifying contractors and/or firms for the construction of the Palasbari-Sualkuchi Bridge. The pre-qualification tender is to pick up the eligible contractors or firms that can take part in the final bidding process for the project.

The proposed four-lane extra-dosed PSC bridge over the River Brahmaputra for a length of 3600 metres has multi-span extra-dosed units of PSC superstructure, a 216-metre viaduct, a 5387-metre approach road with one traffic junction at National Highway-17 with a service road on the Palashbari side, an 864-metre elevated road, and a 1927-metre approach road with a service road and a rotary at the end that meets at Bongsor Sualkuchi Road on the North Bank.

The total project length is 12.21 km. The main bridge is a four-lane carriage-way with an overall width of 28 metres. The project starts at Kaita Sidhi on NH-17 (near Mirza) on the South Bank, crosses the River Brahmaputra, and terminates at Bongsor Sualkuchi Road on the North Bank. The river training and protection works are one of the main scopes of work under the project.

The State Government, through the Government of India, has applied for a loan from the New Development Bank towards the cost of the project. The State Government intends to construct the bridge in EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) mode in 48 months. The initial estimated cost of the project is around Rs 2600 crore.

The final bid for the project is expected to be floated in July of this year.

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