The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is expediting the construction of new bridges, with one of the two 3-lane bridges expected to be ready for heavy traffic before the monsoon, by July this year. The second bridge is also anticipated to be completed by the end of this year, and the entire Indore-Khandwa Highway project is projected to be finished by November 2026.
NHAI is constructing the Indore-Hyderabad Corridor NH-347BG, commonly known as the Indore-Khandwa Road, in four phases. The project faces two major challenges: the difficult, hilly terrain between the villages of Simrol and Balwada, which requires tunneling, and the construction of two 3-lane bridges over the Narmada River.
The bridges, being built at a height of 30 meters (more than 100 feet) from the riverbed, will be separate for incoming and outgoing traffic.
The construction of these bridges is progressing swiftly, with a significant obstacle overcome at the mid-span of the river. The flow of water in the Narmada River had been high, complicating the construction of pillars from P-14 to P-17. To address this, a cofferdam, a temporary watertight enclosure, was built to create a dry working environment. This was accomplished by lowering the water level of the Narmada River through the controlled release of water from the Omkareshwar Dam from April 1 to 5.
During this period, the cofferdam was set up, and girder launchers were installed to position the slabs. The installation of these structures provided access for cranes and other machinery to reach the mid-span of the river, allowing work on the pillars and slabs to continue at an accelerated pace.
NHAI officials are optimistic that the work will be completed by June, with the first 3-lane bridge expected to be open for heavy traffic by July. The highway's four packages have made significant progress.
News source: The Free Press Journal
