Maligaon footbridge
Photo: UB Photos

Maligaon footbridge got two lifts at both ends of the footbridge for the convenience of senior citizens and the physically challenged of the city.

Guwahati Development Department Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated the two new lifts. Sarma said lifts are being fitted to three other footbridges and will be ready by October.

Maligaon footbridge
Photo: UB

New footbridges fitted with escalators will be installed in different parts of the city.

Assam government had announced installing of lifts on existing footbridges in the budget.

Bharalumukh, Maligaon, Lachit Nagar and Dispur footbridges would get lifts on public-private partnership (PPP) basis, reports the Telegraph.

Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Each lift has the capacity to carry eight people. Although we had assessed demand for a 16-capacity lift, we could not install those due to lack of space. They will remain open from 8am to 9pm. These will benefit people and traffic management will be better.”

Mumbai firm Signpost India Pvt Ltd of Mumbai was awarded work to design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) and maintenance for a period of 20 years with advertising rights and 20 per cent profit sharing with the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).