A year-and-a half after the Vadodara Municipal Company (VMC) closed the century-old hanging bridge that connects two ends of the Sayajibaug zoo, intersected by the crocodile-infested Vishwamitri river, the Bridge Mission division of the civic physique has put forth a proposal earlier than the Standing Committee to assemble a brand new bridge at a price of Rs 14.62 crore on the premises.
The proposal earlier than the Standing Committee states that the bottom bid has been obtained from M/s Rajkamal Builders Infrastructure Non-public Restricted at Rs 14.62 crore, about 32.30% increased than the estimated worth of Rs 11.05 crore. The proposal states that the price of Rs 14.62 crore has been arrived at after a sequence of communications with the bidder to influence decrease prices.
Looking for approval for the escalated value, the proposal states, “The bottom bidder had initially quoted an estimate of Rs 14.92 crore, which was 35% greater than the estimated value of Rs 11.05 crore. Thereafter, in communication with the bidder between September 9, 2024 and October 1, 2024, the value was diminished by 2% to carry it all the way down to Rs 14.62 crore, inclusive of 18% GST, which is 32.30% above estimated worth…”
The proposal additional states that the development of the Sayajibaug zoo bridge has been included within the works to be executed from the grants obtained underneath the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shehri Vikas Yojna scheme of 2023-24.
The motorable bridge that’s presently in want of restore was constructed through the period of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III about 143 years in the past and has ornate ‘chhatris’ (turrets) adorning the highest and connects the present enclosure of carnivores to the newly constructed walk-through aviary.
The choice to shut the bridge was taken in July 2023 after advice from the guide of the civic physique who examined the construction for health, officers of the VMC mentioned.
Following the Morbi bridge collapse in October 2022, a number of specialists had identified that the zoo bridge had proven indicators of injury. Officers mentioned that the heavy spell of rain witnessed in Vadodara in July 2023 had triggered partial washing away of a bridge on the Bhooki canal in MSU, prompting the VMC to undertake a scrutiny of the Sayajibaug bridge.
The truss bridge connects the top from the walkthrough aviary to the enclosures for lion, leopard, tiger, monkey and hippopotamus on the opposite aspect. As per the proposal, the development of the bridge might be accomplished inside a interval of 1 yr.
