Government to rebuild 150 bridges, construct over 200 ROBs

NEW DELHI: The Road Transport and Highways Ministry is planning to rebuild 150 bridges as part of an ambitious project called ' Sethu Bharatam' or 'Bridging India'.

The government is also planning to build over 200 rail over bridges.

A senior road ministry official said the Cabinet will be apprised of 'Bridging India' project soon.

The government had asked states to give a list of bridges which are in dilapidated condition and require refurbishing. States had given a list of 1,000 bridges, of which the Centre selected 150.

The government is already planning the ambitious ' Bharatmala' project, a road connecting India's west coast with east coast at a cost of around Rs 14,000 crore.

"The name 'Sethu Bharatam' because it aims to connect India through bridges," the official said, adding that of the 150 bridges to rebuilt, 50 will be this year and the rest next year.

Ministries of Railways and Road Transport last year had signed an agreement to facilitate speedy clearance of rail over and under bridges along national highway corridors.