All India Radio – Launch of Sethu Bharatam Project

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LAUNCH OF SETHU BHARATAM PROJECT

Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Setu Bharatam programme for building bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.

The ‘Setu Bharatam’ project

• Aims to make all national highways free from railway level crossing by 2019 to ensure road safety.
• Under the project, 208 rail-over bridges and rail-under bridges will be built at the cost of Rs. 20,800 crore.
• Also, 1,500 decade-old bridges will be reconstructed and revamped for Rs. 30,000 crore.

The scheme has come at a right time when there are plethoras of infrastructural loopholes that are choking the Economy. Given the low capacity utilisation especially in Capital goods and slowdown in global economy, it is right time to develop/upgrade the existing infrastructure in the country. In this regard Sethu Bharatam project has a long way in delivering seamless connectivity to masses.

The project aims at removing all bottlenecks that are present in the existing infrastructure. Given the necessity to have a strong broad based infrastructure that caters to all the section of people. Sethu Bharatham project address all such necessary concerns.

Sethubharatham project lays emphasis on revamping of bridges than building new bridges. Indian Academy for Highway Engineer in Noida, is responsible to carry out conditions survey and inventorization of all bridges on National Highways in India by using Mobile Inspection Units. The scheme requires effective coordination among various ministries (Waterways, Urban development, Rural development etc) so that a good synergy is present among them for effective implementation of the scheme.

The collections of Infrastructure database helps in conserving the history of bridges and also helps to have a framework as to how bridges were constructed and how it is to be maintained by future generation. This data base will be the largest of its kind and will also help in smoothening the movement of Over-Dimension and Over-Weight consignments on National Highways.

Good infrastructure network is vital for the growth and development of a nation. In order to satisfy the aspirations and long felt needs of people, Sethu Bharatham project envision bringing in a qualitative change and a comprehensive, integrated approach in developing infrastructure in the country.