A year-and-a half after the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) closed the century-old hanging bridge that connects two ends of the Sayajibaug zoo, intersected by the crocodile-infested Vishwamitri river, the Bridge Project department of the civic body has put forth a proposal before the Standing Committee to construct a new bridge at a cost of Rs 14.62 crore on the premises. The proposal before the Standing Committee states that the lowest bid has been received from M/s Rajkamal Builders Infrastructure Private Limited at Rs 14.62 crore, about 32.30% higher than the estimated price of Rs 11.05 crore. The proposal states that the cost of Rs 14.62 crore has been arrived at after a series of communications with the bidder to persuade lower costs. Seeking approval for the escalated cost, the proposal states, “The lowest bidder had originally quoted an estimate of Rs 14.92 crore, which was 35% more than the estimated cost of Rs 11.05 crore. Thereafter, in communication with the bidder between September 9, 2024 and October 1, 2024, the price was reduced by 2% to bring it down to Rs 14.62 crore, inclusive of 18% GST, which is 32.30% above estimated price.” The proposal further states that the construction of the Sayajibaug zoo bridge has been included in the works to be executed from the grants received under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shehri Vikas Yojna scheme of 2023-24. The motorable bridge that is currently in need of repair was built during the era of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III about 143 years ago and has ornate ‘chhatris’ (turrets) adorning the top and connects the current enclosure of carnivores to the newly built walk-through aviary. The decision to close the bridge was taken in July 2023 after recommendation from the consultant of the civic body who examined the structure for fitness, officials of the VMC said. Following the Morbi bridge collapse in October 2022, several experts had pointed out that the zoo bridge had shown signs of damage. Officials said that the heavy spell of rain witnessed in Vadodara in July 2023 had caused 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 end from the walkthrough aviary to the enclosures for lion, leopard, tiger, monkey and hippopotamus on the other side. As per the proposal, the construction of the bridge will be completed within a period of one year.
