Three private companies have evinced interest in constructing the proposed cable-stayed bridge over Hudco Lake in suburban Govindpur. Two of these are from Calcutta and the third from Delhi. The tender was opened here on Saturday.

“Three construction firms, including the one that set up Domuhani bridge over Subernarekha river, have shown interest. We will do a comprehensive study of the firms concerned and award the tender to the best,” said executive engineer Sanjay Kumar Singh of the road construction department’s Jamshedpur division.

Singh added that the suspension bridge would be ready within the stipulated period of two years.

While the bidding process has been successful, the proposed project is facing local resentment. Owners of 35 houses, some of which may have to be demolished to facilitate the bridge work, have submitted a petition to East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar.

Sources in the road construction department said seven houses were likely to be pulled down to make way for the pylons, but 35 more would lie directly under the bridge, which residents feel is dangerous.

Deputy commissioner Kumar played down the concerns raised on Saturday. “Whenever a big project comes up, a section of people is affected in some way or the other. The road construction department (read Jamshedpur division) will try to ensure that only a few houses are affected. We will compensate such house owners,” he said.

Biswambar Prasad Singh, a resident of Govindpur and among the petitioners, said they were not opposed to a cable-stayed bridge in the area.

“All we want is a realignment so that the bridge doesn’t fly over our homes. The current alignment will not only deprive us of sunshine, but also leave us vulnerable to mishaps, like a cave-in,” the resident said.

The cable-stayed bridge will be set up at a cost of Rs 160 crore and at a height of 40ft over Hudco Lake, around 12km from the heart of the steel city.

Modelled on Calcutta’s Vidyasagar Setu, the bridge will be 500 metres long and flaunt a 500-metre approach road on both sides. The road will link the bridge to the 12km Govindpur-Pipla road, which in turn connects with NH-33 at Pipla.