PWD bags CCL contract of bridge over Damodar.

Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) recently awarded the work to construct a bridge over Damodar river in Rajrappa to the Public Works Department of the state government. The bridge, at an estimated cost of Rs. 26 crore, will connect Rajrappa with Bokaro district for coal transportation to the Rajrappa coal washery from the proposed block-2 mine expansion project.

Once constructed, this will be the fourth such bridge by CCL in the district. Earlier, the coal company had constructed two bridges in Bhurkunda area and one in Rajrappa area.

CCL has an ambitious block-2 mine expansion plan in Rajrappa area in Dhawaiya and Simrabera villages under Gomia block of Bokaro district at an estimated cost of Rs. 500 crore. The coal produced here will be sent to Rajrappa coal washery which has a coal capacity of 800 metric tonne. “Block-2 has an estimated coal reserve of 72 million tonne which could fulfil raw coal requirement of the Rajrappa coal washery for over three decades,” said a senior CCL official.

Rajesh Murmu, executive engineer, public work department (PWD), Ramgarh, said CCL has awarded the construction work through a bid. O P Choubey, project officer, Rajrappa said, “The bridge will initially be used to carry heavy machines to the new coal project which will spread across 585 hectare of land.”

The Damodar river basin is rich in coal reserves and most of CCL’s mines are under operation here. “The river is now dotted with bridges in every 5km and Ramgarh alone has seven bridges constructred by CCL and the state government,” said an official.

ET