Kolkata. 16 March 2022. Facilitating roadway infrastructure development in difficult terrains of India, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd., (GRSE), a Mini Ratna Category 1 Defence PSU and a leading warship building company of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the fabrication, supply, erection and launching of first-of-its-kind, 27 nos. double-lane Class 70 modular steel bridges in border areas.
The two year contract worth Rs. 65 Crore (approx.) was inked by Director General Border Roads Organisation, Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary and Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Officiating Chairman & Managing Director, GRSE, in New Delhi on 15 Mar 22.
These bridges have been designed in-house by GRSE & all components have been manufactured with 100% indigenous raw materials, in line with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
Live load testing had been completed successfully on the prototype and connectivity through these bridges shall be an ideal solution for strategic roadway infrastructure development in North & North-East India.
The first bridge of this kind, was constructed at Flaghill, Dokalam, Sikkim at an altitude of 11,000 feet under Project Swastik of the BRO, inaugurated by Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh on 28 December 2021.
The bridges have a carriageway width of 7.5 meters, permitting plying of two-way traffic in compliance with specifications laid down by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). High tensile steel of Grade E-410 ensures high strength, long life and low temperature applications. The galvanized surface finish ensures easier maintenance and longer service life. Load Class IRC 70R permits movement of both Wheeled/ Tracked Vehicles of up to 100 / 70 MT. The modular concept ensures easier transportation of bridge components to remote areas and faster erection of bridges in a short span of 30 to 45 days.
GRSE has delivered more than 5300 Portable Steel Bridges to Indian Army, Border Road Organisation and State Governments & exported to friendly neighbourhood countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Myanmar.
