The Union Finance Ministry has cleared the ‘external funding’ for the proposed six-lane bridge connecting Bharalumukh to North Guwahati.
This was disclosed by CEO of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), M Angamuthu in Guwahati on Thursday, according to a Times of India report.
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Angamathu, according to the report had said that the screening committee of the Department of Economic Affairs of the Union Finance Ministry cleared it in February this year.
The project outlay is estimated at Rs 1,890 crore, of which the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) will provide Rs 1,512 crore, according to the TOI report.
While stating that the rest will be borne by the State Government, the GMDA CEO further disclosed that till date, a fund of Rs 250 crore has been provided by the State Government for preparation of the Detailed Project Report and preliminary costs like land acquisition and rehabilitation, among others, the reported stated.
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The proposed bridge will serve as a link between North Guwahati and the city, in a big relief for commuters who usually has to cross the mighty Brahmaputra River in ferries or motorboats to avoid the long stretch through Saraighat Bridge.
It will also help plan the growth of Guwahati Metropolitan Area and expansion of the city to the North Bank.
The GMDA has engaged SMEC consultant group, a subsidiary of Singapore government, for preparation of the feasibility study and the DPR. The feasibility report is completed and the DPR is near completion, the report added.
The total length of bridge on the river is 1.6 km measured from the south bank to the north bank.
Out of this, 1.24 km will be designed as a multi-span extradosed bridge with individual span length of 200 metre between consecutive pylons.
“The extradosed bridge has been considered because of the superior technology, which brings down the high number of foundations in the river over the conventional bridge design, good aesthetic view and less construction time,” the report quoted a statement issued by the GMDA.
The project has already received clearance from Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the report further added.