Surat: Cable-stayed bridge over river Tapi not likely to become operational in near future
In Surat, the ambitious Rs 143-crore project involving the construction of the 918 m-long cable-stayed bridge over river Tapi has been shrouded with uncertainty for the last nearly one year now.
The construction of the cable-stayed bridge – which connects Athwalines to Pal – was scheduled for completion in May 2013. But, even after a lapse of 13 months of the mentioned deadline, there presently is no sign of the bridge becoming operational in the near future.
The contract of the cable-stayed bridge was given to Gammon India Ltd, which has failed to provide the durability testing report of the cable to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
Though the contractor had promised to provide the cable testing report by January, it has failed to do so because the Zurich, Switzerland, firm where testing for such cables is carried out is currently in a state of shut down. However, with the contractor having made an alternate arrangement for cable testing in Germany, it is reported that – if the durability report is positive – the bridge will likely be completed in nearly a year’s time.
With regard to the delay in the completion of the cable-stayed bridge, city engineers Jatin Shah said: “All the other major works for the bridge is completed. However, we are stuck as Gammon has not provided the durability test reports for the cable portion of 300 meters.”
Source – The Times of India
cable-stayed bridge, gammon, Gammon India, Gammon India project, Gammon Infrastructure Projects, Surat Municipal Corporation, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC)
