Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Planning and significance
The bridge was approved by the Central Government in 1969 and built by Gammon India Limited over a period of ten years, from 1972 to 1982. The total expenditure was ₹87.22 crore (872.2 million rupees). It was built to connect North Bihar with the rest of Bihar through the state's capital at Patna, and as part of national highway 19 (NH19). Before this bridge was constructed, the only bridge crossing of the Ganges in Bihar was Rajendra Setu, approximately 85 kilometres (53 miles) to the east, which had opened in 1959. Since then, the Vikramshila Setu has also been built across the Ganges. Two more rail-cum-road bridges are completely constructed, between Digha and Sonepur and at Munger. More bridges named Kacchi Dargah Biddupur bridge under Greenfield expressway, at Chhapra,Bakhtiyaarpur, Sultanganj are under construction.
The Indian postal department issued a commemorative postage stamp, "Landmark Bridges Of India: Mahatma Gandhi Setu", on 17 August 2007.
Engineering
The bridge consists of 45 intermediate spans of 121.065 metres (397.19 ft) each and a span of 65.530 metres (214.99 ft) at each end. The deck provides for a 7.5-metre-wide (25 ft) two-lane roadway for IRC class 70 R loading with footpaths on either side. The cantilever segmental construction method was adopted; each span has two cantilever beams on both sides which are free to move at the ends. It has two lanes, one upstream and the other downstream, each with a width of around 6 metres (20 ft). These lanes are free from each other with no connections. It was constructed using 3-metre (9.8 ft) pre-cast parts, which were joined at both ends to complete the span. The spans are connected with a protrusion which is free to move longitudinally. Vertical movement allows for vibrations from vehicular movement to transfer smoothly between spans without much discreteness.
Traffic congestion
In recent decades, the bridge has experienced major traffic chaos due to the increasing number of vehicles crossing it, operating in excess of capacity and overloading the structure. In 2014, Bihar government announced plans to build two pontoon bridges parallel to Gandhi Setu, in order to relieve congestion problems. One pontoon bridge was opened in 2017. The bridge is crossed daily by over 85,000 vehicles and 12,000 pedestrians. On 21 September 2020 Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of another 4 lane road bridge measuring 14.5 km and will cost ₹2926.42 crores It will be on the west side of present bridge and in future, it will become 8 lane bridge including the present 4 lane bridge.
History
- Construction started: Year 1972
- Scheduled opening: June 1978.
- Tender cost: ₹23.50 crore
- 1st Extension of Time (EOT): June 1980
- Allocated cost: ₹46.67 crore
- Reasons for cost increase: This extra cost is the outcome of an "in-built" cost escalation clause in the contract
- Reasons for delay: Heavy storm in April 1979 destroyed two gantries and casting beds. Each gantry crane weighs 300 tonnes. Huge shortage of cement and building material and a workers' strike
- Reports: Cement and other building materials stored for this project find their way into Nepal and parts of Bihar
from the northern side of the bridge.
- 2nd Extension of Time (EOT): December 1981
- Project progress: 80% ( physical ) up to September 1980
- Billed value: ₹41 crore
- Contractor's extra claim : ₹50 crore
Litigation & arbitration: Disagreement between the contractors and the Government overpayments stalled construction activity. Claims and bills got referred to the Law Department. Final completion date: June 1982 ( Eastern carriageway ) Completion date: April 1987 ( Western carriageway ) Total cost: 87 crores Minister of State for Public Works: Raghunath Jha Chief Minister: Jagannath Mishra
Structural integrity and failure
This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
The bridge has often been subjected to structural loads and moving loads exceeding its design. Major repairs were initiated on it within five years of its completion. Poor maintenance, coupled with wear and tear caused by the unprecedented surge in traffic, has made the structure vulnerable. Other bridges in India which were built with the same cantilever design have developed cracks.
Investigations into the fissures developed in the bridge revealed the following defects: hammering at the hinges when vehicles plied; finger-type expansion joints in an advanced state of distress; wearing coat cracks; spilling of concrete at transverse joints; longitudinal cracks in precast segments; leakage of water inside the box girder from joints between segments and from holes provided for lifting the segments.
Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project
In 2018, it was reported that Mahatma Gandhi Setu is being revamped. Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project has been completed by Afcons Infrastructure in joint venture with Sibmost OJSC at an estimated cost of ₹1,742.01 crore. Of that, Rs 237 crore is spent on dismantling the structure that was replaced by the steel framework. The superstructure of Gandhi Setu was renewed by Steel Truss Girders, i.e. the steel framework replaced the entire concrete superstructure. While the superstructure was damaged, the pillars were not and nor was the foundation weakened. The triangular steel trusses were installed on each flank of Gandhi setu. The renovated Western flank was opened to public on 31 July 2020, and the completed bridge (including both the flanks) was inaugurated in June 2022.
See also
- List of longest bridges in the world
- List of longest bridges above water in India
- List of bridges in India
- Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur Bridge
References
- ^ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ^ Madhuri Kumar (26 September 2012). "Traffic eases on Gandhi Setu as Centre drops toll collection". The Times of India. Patna. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ^ "Destinations :: Patna". Archived from the original on 18 September 2014.
- ^ "Traffic eases on Gandhi Setu as Centre drops toll collection - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Gandhi Setu: An engineering marvel". The Times of India. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
- ^ longest river bridge to be rebuilt Archived 29 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine business-standard.com
- ^ "Anatomy of Setu repair".
- ^ "Digha Sonepur Rail Road Bridge to be operational by 2017". July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- ^ Ganga Rail-Road Bridge
- ^ Welcome to the Indiapost Web Site Archived 12 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gandhi Setu: An engineering marvel". The Times of India. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
- ^ Gammon India Ltd. - Builders to the nation Archived 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Mahatma gandhi setu Bihar". 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Govt planning to build 2 Pontoon Bridges parallel to Gandhi Setu in Patna". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ "Patna-Hajipur pontoon bridge to open today". Times of India. 5 December 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "Infra boost for Bihar! PM Modi lays foundation stone for 9 highway projects, inaugurates optical fibre services". 21 September 2020.
- ^ "₹1,742 crore approved to revamp Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna". The Hindu Businessline. 20 January 2018.
- ^ "'Western flank of Gandhi setu was re-inaugurated in June 22". The Times of India. 3 January 2019.
- ^ Roy, Vijay C. (28 October 2015). "Country's longest river bridge in Patna to be rebuilt". Business Standard India.
- ^ "Bihar: Union minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates rehabilitated western flank of Mahatma Gandhi Setu". The Times of India. 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Bihar's lifeline bridge". The Telegraph. 8 May 2022.