05 June, 2017
Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping had immediately announced that a new bridge would be constructed within six months. The old bridge was destroyed during the last monsoon.
The new 239 metre bridge, thrown open for public use from today, has been built alongside the British-era bridge that was washed away during the rains a year ago.
The Highways Ministry and the State Public Works Department (PWD) have now built a three-lane bridge in record 165 days by incurring a cost of Rs 35.55 crore.
In a big achievement, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari-led Road Transport and Highways Ministry was able to rebuild a damaged old Masonry Arch Bridge in a record time period of just 165 days. The new bridge is 16 meters wide and 239m long. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and I will inaugurate the bridge on June 5. It is fitted with proper lighting arrangement, has has wide footpath as well as flood alarm system. The new bridge has been constructed keeping road safety measures in mind and has made use of anti-carbonation paint as well.
The Ministry, in a release, said that work on the construction of bridge started on "war footing".
The central government sanctioned the work estimates on September 2 past year and tenders were immediately floated by the State PWD, the lowest bid was accepted and an agreement signed on December 1.
"Several weak bridges are also proposed for re-construction with new 4/6 lane bridges".
The British-era bridge, part of the Panvel-Mahad-Panjim NH66, was to be dismantled in December 2016 as part of Mumbai-Goa Highway expansion project. An official from the public works department said, "Three packages for four-laning work on the Mumbai Goa highway in Raigad district will be launched".
