Work on ‘Asia’s longest bridge’ starts
The billion-rupee project will be completed within three years.
MIRPUR (AJK):
Construction work on Mirpur-Islamgarh bridge over Mangla Dam has commenced, following a formal approval of the billion-rupee project by the government, official sources said.
Sources close to Mangla Dam affairs told The Express Tribune on Friday that the government has allocated Rs270 million for the first phase of the bridge.
The project is said to cost an estimated Rs1.39 billion. Experts have said that at 7,181 metres long, the bridge between Mirpur city and Islamgarh will be Asia’s longest.
The project is targeted to be completed within three years, the source said.
The bridge will not only reduce the road link between Mirpur city and Islamgarh town to an unprecedented level, but will also reduce travelling time for commuters between district headquarters of Mirpur and Kotli, as well as between Mirpur and Dadayal sub-division.
The bridge will also open new vistas for the promotion of tourism in the region, the source added.
Official sources indicated that the implementation of a development package for the resettlement of people affected by the construction of the Mangla dam raising project has been geared up.
They added that payment of compensation to the old and new Mangla dam affectees has almost been completed and a total of Rs56 billion have thus far been spent on resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected families.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.
Construction work on Mirpur-Islamgarh bridge over Mangla Dam has commenced, following a formal approval of the billion-rupee project by the government, official sources said.
Sources close to Mangla Dam affairs told The Express Tribune on Friday that the government has allocated Rs270 million for the first phase of the bridge.
The project is said to cost an estimated Rs1.39 billion. Experts have said that at 7,181 metres long, the bridge between Mirpur city and Islamgarh will be Asia’s longest.
The project is targeted to be completed within three years, the source said.
The bridge will not only reduce the road link between Mirpur city and Islamgarh town to an unprecedented level, but will also reduce travelling time for commuters between district headquarters of Mirpur and Kotli, as well as between Mirpur and Dadayal sub-division.
The bridge will also open new vistas for the promotion of tourism in the region, the source added.
Official sources indicated that the implementation of a development package for the resettlement of people affected by the construction of the Mangla dam raising project has been geared up.
They added that payment of compensation to the old and new Mangla dam affectees has almost been completed and a total of Rs56 billion have thus far been spent on resettlement and rehabilitation of the affected families.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2011.