Guwahati: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for the completion of the remaining work on the Majuli-Jorhat bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Assam, providing new momentum to the project.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a new contractor has been appointed to complete the stalled Majuli-Jorhat bridge over the Brahmaputra River.
The construction of the two-lane bridge has been stalled since September 2024 after its previous contractor, UP State Bridge Corporation Ltd (UPSBCL), left the project midway. The reason for halting the work has not been disclosed by the contractor.
Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, “Another step closer to connecting Majuli and Jorhat. The Letter of Acceptance for completing the balance work on the crucial Majuli-Jorhat bridge has been issued.”
This appointment of the new contractor by the Union government paves the way for work to resume soon on the project, which will be a lifeline for the people of Majuli, the chief minister said.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways’ Letter of Acceptance (LOA), which was shared by CM Sarma along with his post, Haryana-based SPS Construction India Pvt Ltd placed a bid of Rs 657.66 crore for the construction of the main bridge.
The company will construct a total of 8.03 km, which will include the approach and the main bridge portion of 6.81 km, it added.
The LOA noted that the quoted bid price of “Rs 657,66,40,388 without GST has been determined to be the lowest evaluated bid and is substantially responsive and has been accepted”.
The Centre has asked the company to furnish a performance security of Rs 32.88 crore as part of the necessary formalities.
However, the LOA has not specified any deadlines for commencing or completing the construction work, which has already faced significant delays.
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had earlier sanctioned Rs 925.47 crore for the construction of the Majuli-Jorhat bridge, including its immediate approaches over the Brahmaputra on NH-715K at Dakshinpat in Majuli.
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In March this year, the overall project cost of this crucial road link to the world’s largest river island was revised to Rs 1,019.17 crore, an escalation of nearly Rs 94 crore from the previous estimation.
In February 2016, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation of a bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Jorhat on the south bank and Lakhimpur on the north bank via the river island.
