The Times of India 31.08.2009
SMC to go ahead with Rs 86-cr cable-stayed bridge
SURAT: After meeting with several obstacles, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has finally decided to go ahead with its dream project of constructing cable-stayed bridge - first of its kind in Gujarat - across river Tapi, connecting Athwalines and Adajan. The project is worth Rs 86 crore.
SMC has redesigned the bridge structure in order to bring down the cost by almost 50 per cent. As per the new design, the bridge will have only the cable-stayed structure across the river and there will be no flyover branches on both the sides.
A delegation led by city mayor Ranjeet Gilitwala and municipal commissioner S Aparna visited Gandhinagar on Monday to give a detailed presentation to Chief Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. Modi is learnt to have cleared the decision of SMC to construct the bridge using new design.
"We are going ahead with our dream project. There will be no flyover branches connecting the cable-stayed bridge on both sides of the river," the municipal commissioner said.
According to SMC commissioner, the main concentration is on river portion. After studying the traffic pattern in future, decision will be taken accordingly on constructing flyover branches. Sources said the cable-stayed is one of the major projects which SMC has been trying to work on since last two years. Due to high estimate, the authorities were unable to execute the project.
Earlier, SMC received only one tender and that too of a whooping Rs 214 crore from Gammon India Limited. Since the corporation has lost octroi income, it's difficult for the exchequer to cough up the high cost. "We are now going to invite fresh tenders for the project," said executive engineer (bridge cell) Jatin Shah.