A strategically-important 280-feet long historic bridge at Hussainiwala, which was blown off during 1971 India-Pakistan war, was dedicated to the nation by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday.
The bridge, having four spans, connects Ferozepur with Hussainiwala barrage on River Sutlej on old Ferozpur-lahore highway. It is the only life line for nearly ten villages connecting Hussainiwala enclave with the rest of the country.
After the 1971 war, a Bailey bridge was launched by the Army to restore road communication. To replace this old bridge, Project Chetak, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was entrusted with the task of constructing a permanent bridge with RCC decking over steel beam girder super structures.
The permanent bridge has now been completed by BRO and dedicated to the nation by Sitharaman, among presence of Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, and other dignitaries.
“The permanent bridge at Hussainiwala Barrage will help not only the Indian Armed Forces but the local population at large for their daily commuting,” Sitharaman said.
She said Hussainiwala is a historic and sacred place of our great Martyrs Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru and many other war heroes and it was her honour and privilege to inaugurate this historic bridge which will lead to the development of Punjab Region and people of Ferozpur.