Sidhwan Canal bridges to become operational by April

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

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

The steel bridges are being fabricated at — Kotkapura and Yamunanagar by New Life Infra and Durga Engineering, respectively, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora told The Tribune, here on Saturday.

Reviewing the progress of the ongoing work, Arora was informed by the NHAI authorities that two bridges will reach the site by the next week and become operational in the first week of April while the other two bridges will reach by March end and be made operational by April end.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member in the Upper House of Parliament from Punjab sent his team with NHAI officials to both facilities for reviewing the ongoing work.

The structure of the two bridges are being manufactured by New Life Infra at Kotkapura in Faridkot, of which, the work of manufacturing of the one bridge was in the advanced stage of completion and was likely to be completed by next week after which all 397 parts of the structure will be dispatched by the manufacturer for the site along the Sidhwan Canal in Ludhiana. All parts will be assembled at the site for installing it over the waterbody. The manufacturing of the structure was started about a month ago while the manufacturing of the second structure of the bridge will be started next month in Kotkapura.

The structures of other two bridges were being manufactured by Durga Engineering in Yamunanagar, of which the work of manufacturing of one bridge was likely to be completed by next week after which all parts of the structure will be dispatched by the manufacturing company for the site where all parts will be assembled for installation. The work of manufacturing the structure was started about 15 days ago while the manufacturing of the second structure will be done by March end.

The installation of each bridge will take at least one month, the NHAI authorities said.

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 the 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 m in length and 11 m width of the main carriageway and 1.5 m 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 the Barewal bridge (both on its right and left sides) over the Sidhwan Canal on Ladhowal Bypass.

Will improve road safety too: MP

“The bridges would help decongest the South City area which is dotted with heavy traffic flow and the project would also help in improving road safety and convenience of commuters on national highways covered under the project,” said Sanjeev Arora, Rajya Sabha MP.

Project report

Cost: Rs 16,64,11,000

Bridges: Four

Material: Steel truss

Length: 17.041-km

Location: Two each in Barewal Awana and Ayali Khurd with 300 m away from Raceway and Barewal bridges over Sidhwan Canal on Ladhowal Bypass

Current status: Advanced stage of completion

Extended deadline: April

Know the canal

Sidhwan Canal is a major canal in the state that runs through Ludhiana. It originates from Neelon and runs through Sahnewal and Harnampura while crossing Ludhiana’s municipal limits at the Lohara bridge. It continues to Isewal village and beyond. The canal has been the subject of projects to improve the waterfront, including footpaths, canopies, and parking.