NOIDA: In what could spell relief to thousands who take the narrow Kalindi Kunj bridge to commute between Delhi, Noida and Faridabad, Noida Authority is set to start work on an eight-lane bridge, parallel to the existing Okhla Barrage, in February next year.

The Authority had recently received a go-ahead for the project from Central Water & Power Research Station, Pune, and Yamuna Action Plan. Estimated to cost around Rs 450 crore, the new bridge is expected to be ready in two years, once the Authority approves the project report and bids are called.

The Kalindi Kunj bridge is the only link between Noida and south Delhi. It was built in the early 1980s when around 10,000 vehicles passed over it daily. In recent years, traffic on this route has grown and experts say the narrow road, which now caters to nearly 1.5 lakh vehicles daily, is no longer sufficient.

To expedite the construction of the proposed bridge, the Authority had sent its estimate to IIT-Delhi last month for its nod. “We have received some queries put forth by the engineers at IIT-Delhi,” said AK Goel, chief maintenance engineer (civil), Noida. “We have replied to them and expect the clearances by the first week of December,” he added.

The move came after the Yamuna Action Plan and Delhi irrigation department issued no objection certificates for the bridge. Once IIT gives the required clearance, tendering for the project will be initiated in December-end. The construction work is expected to begin in February 2014.

The proposed 575m long, 209m high bridge will be supported on 12 pillars and will have two carriageways of four lanes each. It will also have a central verge and pedestrian pathways on each side.

According to an agreement between Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd—which built and runs the DND Flyway—and Noida Authority, a competing facility is prohibited for 10 years. So, two years ago the proposal for the parallel bridge was floated. Noida Authority gave a green signal to the project in February 2011.

CWPRS carried out a survey and hydraulic model studies for the bridge. Factors such as soil, river flow, water pressure, pillar strength, etc have been tested by the agency to ascertain the design of the pillars and the width of the bridge.

In May, some amendments were made to the initial design of the proposed bridge. “Noida had proposed to construct the parallel bridge between Okhla Barrage and the upcoming Metro line, but after conducting surveys, CWPRS suggested that the parallel bridge be constructed 110m away from the line. The new bridge will now be located below the Metro line. A link road from the bridge to Mahamaya Flyover has been proposed,” Goel said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/noida/Work-on-new-bridge-at-Kalindi-Kunj-starts-in-Feb/articleshow/25853906.cms