Finally, Punjab’s longest bridge to open on Nov 26

BUILT AT A COST OF `75 CR, THE BRIDGE ON SUTLEJ WILL REDUCE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN NAWANSHAHR AND LUDHIANA BY 19 KM

SBS NAGAR: The 1.25-km Rahon Mattewara bridge, Punjab’s longest, on the Sutlej river will be thrown open to the public on November 26, reducing the 45km distance between SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr) in the Doaba region and Ludhiana in Malwa by 19 kilometres.

Built at a cost of `75 crore, it will help develop the Bet area. At present, commuters from SBS Nagar, Garhshankar, Banga, Balachaur and Hoshiarpur use the Phillaur route to Ludhiana. Originally, the length of the bridge was to be 0.75km; but with the increase in width of the natural flow of Sutlej towards Rahon, it had to be increased, officials said.

Construction started in 2011, after a year’s delay owning to paucity of funds. Superintendent engineer, public works department (building and roads), VS Dhindsa said the work has been completed and, before the formal inauguration, more trails would be carried out.

The SAD candidate for assembly polls from SBS Nagar, Jarnail Singh Wahid, said Union food processing industry minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal will on November 26 inaugurate the bridge “which was started and completed by the Akali government”.

Also, tenders for construction of a `430-crore approach road from Ra hon-Matte war aLudhiana side would be issued on November 30, it is learnt.

Lachhman Dass, a goldsmith in Rahon, said that the bridge would not only cut the distance by almost half, “but will also give a fillip to trade and industry”. Chemist Surjeet Ram said, “No doubt that the bridge will help in the growth of this area, but traffic load will also increase.”