Bengal unfolds ₹450-cr bridge rebuilding plan

In order to rebuild the recently collapsed bridge structure in Kolkata, the design of the Majerhat bridge as well as its alignment are being planned differently and at an investment of ₹450 crore. The proposal, after getting CM clearance is being sent to the railways for its nod. PWD sources said that it will seek around ₹250 crore as capital requirement for the next 12 months. The planning department has homed in on a steel bow string girder bridge to replace the pre-stressed concrete girder bridge that was built nearly six decades ago. Though the alignment of the new bridge will be close to the old one, there will be a curvature to ensure a reasonable distance between the bridge and the Joka-Esplanade Metro line that runs alongside. A twin-span steel bow string girder bridge was in consideration as it was easy to build the structure and set it up over the train tracks. PWD selected the design as a bow string bridge had recently been erected in a short time by KMDA on the Maa flyover which spans the railway tracks near Park Circus station. The length of the bridge will be around 140m and with the approach roads it will be around 240m.