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Mahatma Gandhi Setu

Coordinates: 25°37′19.0″N 85°12′25.7″E / 25.621944°N 85.207139°E / 25.621944; 85.207139
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Mahatma Gandhi Setu
Coordinates25°37′19.0″N 85°12′25.7″E / 25.621944°N 85.207139°E / 25.621944; 85.207139
CarriesNH-22 and NH-31[1]
CrossesGanga
LocalePatna, Bihar, India
Official nameMahatma Gandhi Setu
Other name(s)Ganga Setu
Named forMahatma Gandhi
Maintained byNational Highways Authority of India
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
MaterialConcrete and steel
Total length5.75 km (3.57 mi)
Width25 m (82 ft)
No. of spans45
History
DesignerGammon India
Constructed byGammon India
Construction start1972
Construction end1982
OpenedMay 1982
Statistics
TollNo (revoked)[2]
Location
Map

Mahatma Gandhi Setu (also called Gandhi Setu or Ganga Setu) is a bridge over the river Ganga in Bihar, India, connecting Patna in the south to Hajipur in the north.[3] Its length of 5,750 metres (18,860 ft)[4] makes it the fourth-longest river bridge in India.[5][6] It was inaugurated in May 1982 in a ceremony in Hajipur by the then-prime minister Indira Gandhi. From 1982 to 2017, Mahatma Gandhi Setu remained the longest bridge in India. Later, the Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project was undertaken to install triangular steel trusses on Mahatma Gandhi Setu.[7]

Planning and significance

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Old structure of Gandhi Setu Bridge in Patna, India

The bridge was approved by the Central Government in 1969 and built by Gammon India Limited over a period of ten years, from 1972 to 1982. The total expenditure was ₹87.22 crore (872.2 million rupees). It was built to connect North Bihar with the rest of Bihar through the state's capital at Patna, and as part of national highway 19 (NH19). Before this bridge was constructed, the only bridge crossing of the Ganges in Bihar was Rajendra Setu, approximately 85 kilometres (53 miles) to the east, which had opened in 1959. Since then, the Vikramshila Setu has also been built across the Ganges. Two more rail-cum-road bridges are completely constructed, between Digha and Sonepur[8] and at Munger.[9] More bridges named Kacchi Dargah Biddupur bridge under Greenfield expressway, at Chhapra,Bakhtiyaarpur, Sultanganj are under construction.

The Indian postal department issued a commemorative postage stamp, "Landmark Bridges Of India: Mahatma Gandhi Setu", on 17 August 2007.[10]

Engineering

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J.P. Setu a rail cum road bridge connecting Digha in Patna to Sonpur near Hajipur

The bridge consists of 45 intermediate spans of 121.065 metres (397.19 ft) each and a span of 65.530 metres (214.99 ft) at each end.[11] The deck provides for a 7.5-metre-wide (25 ft) two-lane roadway for IRC[expand acronym] class 70 R loading with footpaths on either side.[12] The cantilever segmental construction method was adopted; each span has two cantilever beams on both sides which are free to move at the ends. It has two lanes, one upstream and the other downstream, each with a width of around 6 metres (20 ft). These lanes are free from each other with no connections. It was constructed using 3-metre (9.8 ft) pre-cast parts, which were joined at both ends to complete the span. The spans are connected with a protrusion which is free to move longitudinally. Vertical movement allows for vibrations from vehicular movement to transfer smoothly between spans without much discreteness.[13]

Traffic congestion

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In recent decades, the bridge has experienced major traffic chaos due to the increasing number of vehicles crossing it, operating in excess of capacity and overloading the structure. In 2014, Bihar government announced plans to build two pontoon bridges parallel to Gandhi Setu, in order to relieve congestion problems.[14] One pontoon bridge was opened in 2017.[15] The bridge is crossed daily by over 85,000 vehicles and 12,000 pedestrians.[citation needed] On 21 September 2020 Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of another 4 lane road bridge measuring 14.5 km and will cost ₹2926.42 crores [16] It will be on the west side of present bridge and in future, it will become 8 lane bridge including the present 4 lane bridge.

History

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  • Construction started: Year 1972
  • Scheduled opening: June 1978.
  • Tender cost: ₹23.50 crore
  • 1st Extension of Time (EOT): June 1980
  • Allocated cost: ₹46.67 crore
  • Reasons for cost increase: This extra cost is the outcome of an "in-built" cost escalation clause in the contract
  • Reasons for delay: Heavy storm in April 1979 destroyed two gantries and casting beds. Each gantry crane weighs 300 tonnes. Huge shortage of cement and building material and a workers' strike
  • Reports: Cement and other building materials stored for this project find their way into Nepal and parts of Bihar

from the northern side of the bridge.

  • 2nd Extension of Time (EOT): December 1981
  • Project progress: 80% ( physical ) up to September 1980
  • Billed value: ₹41 crore
  • Contractor's extra claim : ₹50 crore

Litigation & arbitration: Disagreement between the contractors and the Government overpayments stalled construction activity. Claims and bills got referred to the Law Department. Final completion date: June 1982 ( Eastern carriageway ) Completion date: April 1987 ( Western carriageway ) Total cost: 87 crores Minister of State for Public Works: Raghunath Jha Chief Minister: Jagannath Mishra

Structural integrity and failure

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The bridge has often been subjected to structural loads and moving loads exceeding its design. Major repairs were initiated on it within five years of its completion. Poor maintenance, coupled with wear and tear caused by the unprecedented surge in traffic, has made the structure vulnerable. Other bridges in India which were built with the same cantilever design have developed cracks.

old concrete superstructure of Gandhi Setu before it was replaced

Investigations into the fissures developed in the bridge revealed the following defects: hammering at the hinges when vehicles plied; finger-type expansion joints in an advanced state of distress; wearing coat cracks; spilling of concrete at transverse joints; longitudinal cracks in precast segments; leakage of water inside the box girder from joints between segments and from holes provided for lifting the segments.

Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project

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In 2018, it was reported that Mahatma Gandhi Setu is being revamped.[17] Gandhi Setu rehabilitation project is being executed by Afcons Infrastructure in joint venture with Sibmost OJSC at an estimated cost of ₹1,742.01 crore.[18] Of that, Rs 237 crore is spent on dismantling the structure that was replaced by the steel framework. The superstructure of Gandhi Setu was renewed by Steel Truss Girders, i.e. the steel framework replaced the entire concrete superstructure.[19] While the superstructure was damaged, the pillars were not and nor was the foundation weakened. The triangular steel trusses were installed on each flank of Gandhi setu. The renovated Western flank was opened to public on 31 July 2020, and the completed bridge (including both the flanks) was inaugurated in June 2022.[20][21]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mahatma Gandhi Setu.
  1. ^ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  2. ^ Madhuri Kumar (26 September 2012). "Traffic eases on Gandhi Setu as Centre drops toll collection". The Times of India. Patna. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Destinations :: Patna". Archived from the original on 18 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Traffic eases on Gandhi Setu as Centre drops toll collection - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Gandhi Setu: An engineering marvel". The Times of India. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
  6. ^ longest river bridge to be rebuilt Archived 29 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine business-standard.com
  7. ^ "Anatomy of Setu repair".
  8. ^ "Digha Sonepur Rail Road Bridge to be operational by 2017". July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. ^ Ganga Rail-Road Bridge
  10. ^ Welcome to the Indiapost Web Site Archived 12 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Gandhi Setu: An engineering marvel". The Times of India. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012.
  12. ^ Gammon India Ltd. - Builders to the nation Archived 23 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Mahatma gandhi setu Bihar". 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Govt planning to build 2 Pontoon Bridges parallel to Gandhi Setu in Patna". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. 15 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Patna-Hajipur pontoon bridge to open today". Times of India. 5 December 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Infra boost for Bihar! PM Modi lays foundation stone for 9 highway projects, inaugurates optical fibre services". 21 September 2020.
  17. ^ "₹1,742 crore approved to revamp Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna". The Hindu Businessline. 20 January 2018.
  18. ^ "'Western flank of Gandhi setu to be ready by June'". The Times of India. 3 January 2019.
  19. ^ Roy, Vijay C. (28 October 2015). "Country's longest river bridge in Patna to be rebuilt". Business Standard India.
  20. ^ "Bihar: Union minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates rehabilitated western flank of Mahatma Gandhi Setu". The Times of India. 31 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Bihar's lifeline bridge". The Telegraph. 8 May 2022.
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