Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: The construction of the proposed four-lane high-level bridge over the Swarnarekha River, connecting Litti Chowk in Bhuiyadih to Baliguma, has been put on hold due to a critical design flaw. The delay has been further aggravated by the vacant post of Chief Engineer (Design) in the Road Construction Department, which has left the project in limbo.
The foundation stone for the bridge was laid by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on October 4, 2024, just before the Lok Sabha election code of conduct came into effect. However, construction could not commence immediately. Once work began after the elections, a major design flaw was discovered, leading to the cancellation of the initial design. A new design has been prepared, but it is pending approval from the Chief Engineer, a position that has been vacant since December 31, 2024, following the retirement of the previous officer.
The Rs. 44 crore bridge is expected to play a crucial role in easing traffic congestion in Jamshedpur. Once completed, it will directly connect to NH-33, reducing the burden on existing routes like Mango Bridge and Dobo Bridge. The bridge will facilitate the movement of heavy vehicles from Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Lafarge, Steel Strip Wheels, Timken and TSDPL, allowing them to bypass congested city roads.
The construction contract has been awarded to Satish Prasad Company of Ranchi, but work cannot proceed without official approval. Concerns have been raised over how such a significant alignment flaw was overlooked in the initial planning phase, delaying a much-needed infrastructure project. Until a new Chief Engineer is appointed and the revised design gets clearance, the fate of this crucial bridge remains uncertain.
