Chandigarh: The Chandigarh administration has received an overwhelming response to its plan to construct a high-level bridge over the Sukhna Choe near Bapudham Colony in Sector 26, with nine firms submitting bids for the project.Officials said the strong participation is expected to generate competitive pricing and could help bring down the cost of the project, estimated at around Rs 17 crore. The proposed bridge will replace the existing causeway that connects Chandigarh with Manimajra and other surrounding areas.The project will be executed under the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) model, under which a single contractor will be responsible for the entire project, including design, procurement of materials and construction. However, all specifications, designs and plans will require approval from the UT administration.A senior UT official said the engineering department has begun the technical evaluation of the bids through a committee comprising senior technical officers.“The department has received nine bids and the technical scrutiny process is underway. The committee will assess the bidders’ work experience, financial eligibility, execution of similar projects, banking credentials and other technical qualifications in accordance with the project requirements. Only those found eligible in the technical evaluation will qualify for the opening of financial bids,” the official said.Sources said that while opening financial bids is relatively straightforward, technical evaluation is a detailed and time-consuming process.“Verification of documents and assessment of technical credentials of all bidders will take some time. If the process proceeds smoothly, the project is likely to be awarded by September after completion of all formalities,” sources said.The proposed bridge will be approximately 500 metres long and 27 metres wide. It will feature four traffic lanes, dedicated cycle tracks and two-metre-wide pedestrian pathways on both sides. The project also includes remodelling of the existing T-junction in Sector 26, which will be elevated by nearly two metres to improve traffic flow.The administration decided to replace the existing causeway after repeated monsoon flooding exposed its vulnerability. During heavy rains and the release of water from Sukhna Lake, the causeway often gets submerged, forcing its closure and disrupting connectivity between Chandigarh and Manimajra. Officials said the high-level bridge is expected to provide an all-weather link while improving safety and traffic movement in the area.
