Sonia lays foundation of JK’s first Cable-Stayed Bridge

Srinagar: Chairperson of National Advisory Council, Sonia Gandhi Monday laid the foundation stone of Jammu and Kashmir’s first Cable-Stayed Bridge, realizing the 11-year-old dream of her husband and former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.
Coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crors, the 592 meters long Bridge on 10.5 kilometers Dunera-Bani road comes over river Ravi in Basohli area. The two-lane class A bridge with 13.93 meters width will have 1.5 meter wide footpaths on either side. The length between towers will be 350 meters and approaches 121 meters. The height of pylons is designed to be 88 meters above the deck level. The bridge is likely to be completed by 2014 end. Addressing a public rally on the occasion, Sonia Gandhi highlighted the importance of the Bridge for the socio-economic development of the area in particular and that of Jammu and Kashmir in general, a  correspondent reported.Sonia Gandhi, UPA chairperson, reminisced that the project was the dream of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. She recalled that Rajiv Gandhi was to lay the foundation stone of this bridge in 1989 but the event could not take place due to the announcement of the elections.The Basholi Bridge is said to be a technological marvel. It will be a cable-stayed bridge, similar to the Second Hoogly Bridge at Kolkotta, Naini Bridge at Allahabad and the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link at Mumbai. The Basholi Bridge will have a tower height of about 88 metres above deck level. The decking and the span regions will only be supported by cables. There will be 1.5 metre wide footpaths on both sides. The contract for the construction of the bridge has been awarded to M/S IRCON-SPS Construction Pvt Ltd. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Union Ministers, A. K. Antony, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of State P. Raju, JKPCCI Chief, Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz and legislators and prominent citizens of the area were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah underlined the need for constructing two tunnels at Chattergala and Singpora-Vailoo to link Kishtwar and Doda with the Valley adding that this would provide an alternate route from Valley to Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.Omar Abdullah sought the Central assistance in the construction of these two tunnels along with other such projects presently being surveyed for feasibility.On Panchayat elections, he said establishment of Panchayat institutions would strengthen the democratic set up in the State and open vistas of development.The Chief Minister said that after Halqa Panchayats, Block Panchayats and District Panchayats would be constituted with an aim to transfer powers to these institutions and devolve authority to the democratically elected Bodies. He said it would help in a big way to decentralize authority at the central offices and involve public in the process of decision making at various levels.Omar said that Panchayat Raj in the State would act as an effective tool to address the menace of corruption and ensure public monitoring of the development schemes at all levels.The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the Union Government for liberal financing to the State and said that the funds are utilized to help faster economic development in the State.Omar also praised Border Roads Organization (BRO) for working in difficult situation, braving weather vagaries and other challenges, and keeping the highways open in the State besides undertaking construction and upgradation of various roads.