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 Venture division of the civic physique has put forth a proposal earlier than the Standing Committee to assemble a brand new bridge at a value of Rs 14.62 crore on the premises.
The proposal earlier than the Standing Committee states that the bottom bid has been acquired from M/s Rajkamal Builders Infrastructure Non-public Restricted at Rs 14.62 crore, about 32.30% greater than the estimated value of Rs 11.05 crore. The proposal states that the price of Rs 14.62 crore has been arrived at after a collection of communications with the bidder to influence decrease prices.
In search of approval for the escalated price, the proposal states, “The bottom bidder had initially quoted an estimate of Rs 14.92 crore, which was 35% greater than the estimated price 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 deliver it all the way down to Rs 14.62 crore, inclusive of 18% GST, which is 32.30% above estimated value…”
The proposal additional states that the development of the Sayajibaug zoo bridge has been included within the works to be executed from the grants acquired below the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shehri Vikas Yojna scheme of 2023-24.
The motorable bridge that’s at present in want of restore was constructed in the course of 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 suggestion from the guide of the civic physique who examined the construction for health, officers of the VMC stated.
Following the Morbi bridge collapse in October 2022, a number of specialists had identified that the zoo bridge had proven indicators of injury. Officers stated that the heavy spell of rain witnessed in Vadodara in July 2023 had precipitated 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 can be accomplished inside a interval of 1 yr.
