Inching closer to the construction of the much-delayed Signature Bridge, the first consignment of bridge components from China has arrived India.
The asymmetrical blocks required to construct the 154 m tall pylon on which the bridge will be suspended, reached Gujarat's Kandla harbour. Two of the blocks have been shipped to India on a special ship deployed for the purpose. The steel blocks, which will be assembled to make a single structure, will take another month to reach Delhi. The pylon, made of high grade steel, is being manufactured in China.
Top sources informed The Pioneer that the special sea vessel carrying two heavy blocks for the construction of the pylon arrived at Kandla harbour in Gujarat on Monday. The ship carrying the blocks had a crane fitted inside to unload them. Each of these foundation blocks weighs 380 tonnes. According to one of the companies involved in the construction of the bridge, the unloading of these steel blocks will require at least two to three days. These asymmetrical blocks will then be transported to Delhi by road.
The proposed bridge is being constructed across Yamuna, 600 metres downstream from the barrage at Wazirabad. Once commissioned, the bridge will improve the flow of traffic between North Delhi and North-East Delhi across the river. It will connect the Marginal Bund Road near Khajuri Khas intersection on the eastern side, with Outer Ring Road on the western side. The project comprises the western approach main flyover, western approach loops, eastern approach main flyover, eastern approach embankment and the main bridge.
Inset: The State Government had proposed to construct a landmark bridge to be suspended with the help of cables on a skyscraper tower, six years ago. The bridge is being constructed under the supervision of the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC). With a total height of 675 m, the main deck of the bridge will be 251 m long, which will be supported by cables, which in turn will be connected to a central pylon. The total weight of the pylon would be over 7,000 tonnes and will be brought to India from China through sea route in form of asymmetrical blocks to be assembled here. Once constructed, the pylon will be one of its kinds as it would not be a linear symmetrical structure, but a bow-shaped one, the middle portion of which will appear triangular in shape.