Mirpur: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday inaugurated the Dhan Gali Bridge built at a cost of Rs. 1.012 billion over Jhelum river in Dadyal sub division of Mirpur district.
The bridge, the largest in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has been named after PM Gilani as ‘Bab-e-Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani’.
AJK President Sardar Yaqoob Khan and Prime Minister Ch Abdul Majeed addressed the gathering and thanked the government of Pakistan for launching various mega projects in AJK including three medical colleges, a cadet college in Dadyal, IT university in Kotli, Mirpur, Muzaffarabad and Rawlakot districts.
WAPDA has constructed Dhan Gali Bridge across River Jehlum in the upper reaches of Mangla Dam Reservoir about 80 meter down stream of existing suspension bridge. It is 45 km from Rawat and Islamabad-Dadyal Road.
The bridge will provide an all-weather and all-traffic facility between Dadyal and Rawalpindi /Islamabad.
China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) and China Railway First Group (CRFG) have constructed the bridge under a joint venture, arrangement, officials said.
Describing the construction of Dhan Gali bridge a milestone achievement in the wake of Mangla Dam Raising Project, WAPDA officials said that with the construction of this bridge, a new era of accelerated development of the entire region has begun. The bridge has reduced the distance between Islamabad and Dadyal AJK by 125 kilometres. People using the bridge will save two to three hours travel time.
WAPDA undertook the construction of Dhan Gali bridge in November 2008 under Mangla Dam Raising Project.
The bridge has two lanes with its clear roadway width of 28 feet. Lighting poles are at 130 feet distance on both sides of the bridge in a staggered manner.
Article by The News Tribe
Posted in: News
