Hyderabad: Decks cleared for two steel bridges in city

Hyderabad: State government has given clearance to GHMC to start the construction of two steel bridges in the busy corridors of city including Nalgonda Cross Roads- Saidabad and Indira Park-Baghlingampally.

These two steel bridges have been pending for more than a year as the authorities could not get prospective bidders to take up the works. However, after relaxing eligibility criteria of bidders, which was for increasing the value over the IBM value for executing the works, the authorities could find bidders during February.

The bridge would be from Nalgonda Cross Roads of Saidabad- IS Sadan- Owaisi Junction Corridor. According to a GHMC official two bidders had bid for the construction of two bridges and at both the places the same bidder was given the contract. The two bidders who participated in the tenders include (M/s M Venkat Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd and M/s NCC Limited). The committee approved the price bid of M Venkat Rao Infra Projects Pvt Ltd with a tender contract value of Rs 312.37 crore, which is 4.65 per cent excess over the IBM value of Rs 298.48 crore for the Nalgonda Crossroads- Saidabad and Indira Park-Baghlingampally. This would ensure free flow of traffic on the busy stretch.

Similarly for the construction of 2.610 km 4-lane bidirectional elevated corridor from Indira Park to VST main road crossing NTR stadium junction, Ashok Nagar Crossroad Junction, RTC Crossroad Junction and Baghlingampally Junction and construction of 3-lane bidirectional grade separator from Ram Nagar to Baghlingampally crossing VST main road junction at second level and passing through Indian Hume pipe Co. Ltd and VST the works were allocated to the same bidder for Rs 368.73 crore.

The steel bridges have advantages compared to the conventional ones. The foundations and slabs would be constructed using concrete mix, pillars and girders would be made of steel. The components would be pre-cast structures, which would be manufactured at different locations. The steel bridges can be completed in a quick time compared to the conventional bridges. However, the cost of steel bridges is more than the conventional one.

Government gave approval for execution of works and also directed the GHMC Commissioner to issue a letter of acceptance of the agency and start the work after entering the agreement.