CHANDIGARH : The Punjab Government led by Bhagwant Mann is set to construct two pontoon bridges on the Ravi River at Darya Musa village and Kot Rajada village of Block Ajnala in District Amritsar by the end of September 2023. Once these bridges become operational, farmers are not required to use boats for ferrying their cattle and other light agri-machinery towards their agricultural lands across the river.
These bridges are to be installed at a cost of Rs. 4.62 crore, which will ensure easy access to the residents especially farmers of a dozen villages located near international border in Ajnala segment. This development will also provide a big relief to the people as they were demanding the same since a long time.
Stating this, Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the area of Ajnala block is at a close proximity to the international border and people were facing several hardships to cross over the Ravi river for their daily works and agricultural purposes. In view of security measures stipulated for the border area, the Minister said, permanent bridges cannot be constructed, that’s why the State Government has decided to provide these pontoon bridges. The bridges to come up at village Darya Musa and Kot Rajada will ensure direct benefit to the farmers and residents of several villages, he added.
After the construction of the bridges, said the Minister, farmers will be able to easily come and go across the river Ravi with their tractor trolleys for the purpose of sowing and harvesting their crops.
ETO said that the Punjab government has given administrative sanction of Rs 236.02 lakh and Rs 226.34 lakh respectively for the construction of both pontoon bridges and tenders had already been floated in this regard.
Notably, the pontoon bridge is a floating bridge specially constructed for pedestrians and light vehicles. The proposed bridges can be used for vehicles weighing less than 10 metric tons and the facility will remain available for a period of nine months in a year. During the monsoon season, these bridges will be removed and kept at a safe place and will be re-established at the same place after the end of the monsoon season, said the Minister.
ETO further said that with the availability of the pontoon bridge, the people crossing the Ravi River would also get the benefit of timely medical assistance, when needed. He said that these bridges will also be beneficial for bringing and transporting animals because at present farmers use boats to bring and take animals.
