Farakka Setu
Farakka Setu | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°48′01″N 87°56′10″E / 24.800201°N 87.936061°E |
| Carries | National Highway 12 |
| Crosses | Ganges River |
| Locale | Farakka, West Bengal, India |
| Other name(s) | Farakka Bridge |
| Maintained by | National Highways Authority of India |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder bridge |
| Total length | 5,468 metres (17,940 ft) |
| Width | 25 metres (82 ft) |
| No. of spans | 43 |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Constructed by |
|
| Construction start | 1 January 2019 |
| Construction cost | ₹622.04 crore (US$74 million) |
| Opening | 31 july 2025 (planned) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 13000 vehicles daily (estimated after completion) |
| Location | |
The Farakka Setu or New Farakka Bridge is an under construction road bridge spanning the Ganga river, 500 meters downstream of the Farakka Barrage. Once completed, the bridge aims to alleviate traffic congestion on the Farakka Barrage and enhance connectivity between North Bengal and South Bengal. Upon completion, the bridge, including its approach roads, will span an impressive 5.468 km (3.398 mi), making it the longest bridge in West Bengal over water. Initially estimated at ₹521 crore (US$62 million), the total construction cost has since been revised to ₹622.04 crore (US$74 million). Construction began in January 2019, RKEC Projects is working on the construction of the bridge in conjunction with Qingdao Construction Engineering to bring the bridge to life. [1]
History
Project Approval
In October 2016, India's Union Council of Ministers passed a bill for the construction of the bridge. At the beginning of 2018, construction work was given to a foreign company.
Construction
On January 1 2019, RKEC Projects began construction. Work began on the north bank of the Ganges from Lakshmipur in the Malda district and Farakka in the Murshidabad district on the south bank.[2] Two separate roads cross the 4 lane bridge, each 12.5 meters wide.[3]
Accident
On February 16, 2020, while construction of a girder was underway between Pillars 1 and 2, the girder broke, causing 2 fatalities and 7 injuries.[4][5][6][7][8]
References
- ^ "ফরাক্কার দ্বিতীয় সেতু জুলাইয়ে চালুর ঘোষণা". Anandabazar Patrika, 8 feb 2025.
- ^ "ভেঙে পড়ল ফারাক্কা ব্যারেজের নির্মীয়মাণ সেতু, মৃত অন্তত ২". এই সময়. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ "উজান গাঙে মিলল নয়া ফরাক্কার ছাড়পত্র". আনন্দবাজার পত্রিকা. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- ^ West Bengal: 1 dead after portion of under-construction bridge collapses in Malda, www.indiatoday.in, 16 February 2020, retrieved 17 February 2020
- ^ কাজ শুরুর দেড় বছরের মধ্যেই ফরাক্কায় ভাঙল নির্মীয়মাণ সেতু, মৃত ২ শ্রমিক, bengali.news18.com, 16 February 2020, retrieved 17 February 2020
- ^ 2 killed, 7 injured after girder of under-construction bridge collapses in West Bengal, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 16 February 2020, retrieved 17 February 2020
- ^ West Bengal: 2 Dead, Over 5 Injured After Part of Under-construction Bridge Collapses in Malda, www.india.com, 16 February 2020, retrieved 17 February 2020
- ^ Two killed, seven injured after girder of under-construction bridge collapses in Bengal, www.newindianexpress.com, 16 February 2020, retrieved 17 February 2020