Rs 2,500 cr bridge over Gulf of Cambay mooted

A massive bridge has been proposed at the cost of Rs 2,500 crore over the Gulf of Cambay connecting South Gujarat and the Saurashtra-Kutch region.

The proposed bridge would also carry gas pipeline from South Gujarat to Saurashtra, bringing much needed respite for the energy starved industries in the region.

Once connected, the entire road traffic from South Gujarat heading towards Kandla port or Jamnagar which houses country's biggest refinery would enter Saurashtra region by crossing bridge from near Bharuch.

The proposed bridge will touch Saurashtra region at Gundala which is 18 km away from Bhavnagar, known for Alang ship breaking yard.

Talking to Business Standard, Chetan Tamboli, Chairman, Gujarat Council said the Saurashtra Chamber of Commerce has forwarded the proposal to the state government with a request to commission feasibility study on the project.

The bridge project, which may be described as lifeline for the entire Saurashtra and Kutch region, will have some 11,000 vehicles passing through it in a day, said Tamboli.

The proposed bridge is also expected to help developing ports in state as it would offer much better connectivity to small and medium size ports along side coastal region in Saurashtra.

The connectivity between South Gujarat and Saurashtra would reduce the travel time between any destination in Saurashtra region and south Gujarat which is the window to western and southern part of the country, by seven to ten hours.

According to Tamboli, the proposed bridge would help bringing gas from South Gujarat region, which has LNG receiving and regasification terminals at Hazira and Dahej just next to Bharuch.

The natural gas, which is crucial for ceramic, oil engine and auto component manufacturing industry in the Saurashtra region, is currently supplied through a over 700 km pipeline.

A bridge over Gulf of Cambay would also reduce the cost of gas because of reduced transporation cost.