Rs 17-crore Sidhwan Canal bridge construction gains momentum

The first truckload, carrying prefabricated material for the four upcoming bridges over the Sidhwan Canal, was unloaded near the construction site here on Monday.

The material was transported from New Life Infra in Kotkapura, where it was manufactured. A second truckload was expected to arrive in a day or so.

Besides, steel components for the second bridge were set to arrive from Durga Engineering in Yamunanagar shortly. Sources indicate that some final painting and finishing touches were underway at the Yamunanagar facility before transportation. The material will also be delivered in two truckloads.

Once on-site, the steel structures for both bridges will be assembled, marking a significant step forward in the long-awaited bridge project.

The four bridges over Sidhwan Canal on Laddowal Bypass in Ludhiana will become operational by April, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has said.

The 17-km-long steel truss bridges over one of the major canals of the state that runs through Ludhiana at the cost of Rs 17 crore were approved in December 2023 to help decongest massive traffic congestion in the busy South City area, which is becoming a hotspot for the food, recreation, and tourism industry.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora told The Tribune here on Monday that about a week ago, he had dispatched a team along with NHAI officials to inspect both manufacturing facilities and ensure steady progress. Each bridge’s installation was expected to take at least a month.

Scope of work

The NHAI had allotted the work to a Bathinda-based construction firm at the cost of Rs 16.64 crore.

According to the scope of work, 17.041-km-long four steel truss bridges at four locations — 1 700 (between Baklavi restaurant and paragon waterfront in Barewal Awana), 2 450 (in front of Sukhmani Enclave in Barewal Awana), 3 300 (in front of Baba’s restaurant in Ayali Khurd) and 3 900 (in front of Bhalla’s house in Ayali Khurd) — over Sidhwan Canal on four-lane partial access controlled Laddowal Bypass from 0 to 17.041 km were being built on the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode.

The new bridges would have a span of 34-meter in length and 11-meter width of main carriageway and 1.5-meter footpath on each side.

The steel truss bridges were being constructed 300-m away from the F2 Raceway bridge (both on its right and left sides) and 300-m away from Barewal bridge (both on its right and left sides) over Sidhwan Canal on Laddowal Bypass.

“Residents have been demanding these bridges for long, seeing them as a crucial solution to the city’s increasing traffic woes. Once completed, these will significantly improve traffic flow in South City, where rapid commercial expansion, including hotels, restaurants, and residential complexes, has led to congestion. All four bridges would transform vehicular movement in the area, besides improving road safety and convenience of commuters on national highways covered under the project by April end or early May,” said Sanjeev Arora, Rajya Sabha MP.