Goa: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Calls for Proposals for Iconic Twin Towers Observatory on New Zuari Bridge
In a recent development, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced a tender for the construction of twin towers featuring a revolving observatory on the new eight-lane Zuari Bridge in Goa. The bridge pylons have already been built to accommodate the construction of these towers.
The tender specifies that the construction will be undertaken on a ‘build-operate-transfer’ basis, meaning that the concessionaire will generate revenue by charging a fee to visitors using the towers, thus covering the construction costs.
Spanning 640 meters, with a central navigational span of 360 meters and end spans of 140 meters on each side, the Zuari cable-stayed bridge is set to become India’s second longest and widest cable-stayed bridge.
Previous tenders had been floated for the construction of the twin towers, but due to various factors including the pandemic, the selection of a contractor was delayed.
The final design of the towers and the revolving observatory will be determined once the contractor is appointed, as reported by the Times of India. Union Minister for MoRTH, Nitin Gadkari, has emphasized the importance of a unique and distinctive design that sets the towers apart from other similar attractions worldwide.
The Twin Tourist Observatory Towers
Gadkari envisions the towers on the new eight-lane bridge to rival the Eiffel Tower as an international tourist attraction.
To facilitate this proposed development, the bridge pylons have been constructed to support the construction of the two towers.
According to the plans, parking space will be created beneath the bridge on the northern banks, specifically on the Agassaim side of the Zuari, where the offices of the bridge construction contractor are presently located.
Visitors will access the base of the towers via a walkway from the parking area, and from there, they will be transported to the observatory using high-speed lifts.
Additionally, there are plans to establish a gallery showcasing Goa’s rich history and heritage within the towers. A restaurant or café is also being considered. It is estimated that each tower will be able to accommodate around 500 tourists at a time, reaching a minimum height of 110 meters from the water level.
With the addition of two tourist observatory towers, a revolving restaurant, and an art gallery, the iconic bridge will significantly contribute to the tourism sector in the state.
Second Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge
The first phase of the New Zuari Bridge, connecting Bambolim in North Goa to Verna junction in South Goa across the Zuari River, was inaugurated on December 29, 2022.
The project’s foundation stone was laid in January 2016, and the initial completion target was set for three years.
As part of a project worth 2,530 crores INR and spanning a total length of 13.20 kilometers, the eight-lane cable-stayed bridge stands out as India’s second longest and widest cable-stayed bridge.
The work order was awarded to Dilip Buildcon Limited (DBL), based in Bhopal, which has collaborated with Ukraine-based company Mostobudivelnyi Zahin Limited (MBZ) for the construction of the cable-stayed bridge.
