SURAT: City's cable-stayed bridge constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 144 crore would be the first project in Gujarat to be delayed by more than four years. After its foundation stone was laid in September 2010, this first proposed cable-stayed bridge of the state was to be dedicated to people in April 2014. But it is still under construction.It was a pet project of BJP rulers and the party had included it in its civic election manifesto of 2005. However, two more civic elections have gone by and couple of new bridges have been constructed on Tapi river, but the cable-stayed bridge still remains a dream for Surtis.Sources said that it would take another two years to be complete, but officials insist it would be open for public in January 2018."The work by the new contractor is not as per schedule and it is likely to be delayed by another two years," said a source in Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). However, an official from the bridge department of SMC said, "We are on schedule and bridge would be completed in time by December 2017. It would be dedicated to people by January 2018." "The flyover bridge towards Athwalines, providing connectivity to cable-stayed bridge would be completed in next two months," said an SMC official and added, chances bridge construction being delayed beyond December 2017 was remote as geometry of the bridge has not changed and construction is going on as per schedule."" Despite some delay, SMC will not lose any money. The new contractor is being paid only for half the work and old contractor has been paid for half the work. We have already blocked some money of old contractor as his contract was terminated mid-way as didn't complete the work in time. He is also black listed," said a top official from SMC .The contract of the first contractor was terminated because he was not prepared to conduct new load bearing capacity tests of the cables. He wanted continue construction with the old tests data. SMC did not want to go ahead without new load bearing capacity tests, so his contract was terminated. There are 10 cables each on both sides on two pillars and at present only towers and a single cable on both sides is visible.

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