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‘Western flank of Gandhi setu to be ready by June’

TNN | Jan 3, 2019, 07.02 AM IST

PATNA: The installation of triangular steel trusses on the western flank of

Mahatma Gandhi Setu across the Ganga in Patna has recently
commenced from Hajipur-end. Authorities concerned claimed it would be
ready for vehicular traffic by June this year. Such trusses are used in rail-
cum-road bridges like in Rajendra Setu or Koilwar rail bridge.

“The Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project is on the priority list of both the
Centre and the state government. All attempts are being made to
commence vehicular traffic on the western flank of the Setu by June,”
state road construction department (RCD) minister Nand Kishor Yadav told
TOI on Wednesday.

Senior RCD officials said the steel being used was procured from five places, including Kolkata, Chennai and Haryana, in the
country.

“Total 33,000 metric tonnes of steel are to be used for installing the triangular trusses, which will bear the load of the concrete
structure as well as the vehicles and ensure longevity of the bridge. The work is under way on four spans at present and the
agency concerned has been asked to install the trusses on all 45 spans on the western flank by June-end,” said K C Thakur,
chief engineer, National Highways wing of state road construction department.

He said the work on casting slabs on the base of triangular trusses for making the road structure is also being carried out
simultaneously.

The project is being looked after by the ministry of road, transport and highways. The demolition work on its western flank
started in February 2017 following an approval by the Union cabinet on July 22, 2016. The project is being executed by AFCON
Infrastructure Ltd in joint venture with Sibmost at an estimated cost of Rs1,742.01 crore with May 18, 2020 deadline.

Chief engineer Thakur said all the spans over land on the western flank had been demolished and those over the Ganga would
also be razed over the next few weeks. /
Vehicles on the bridge from both Patna and Hajipur sides are passing only through the eastern flank, which would get
demolished after the completion of western flank rehabilitation work. Officials said 18 more months would be required for the
rehabilitation of the eastern flank of the bridge.