The fate of 13 proposed bridges across the state, urgently needed to replace old ones, seems uncertain as the state government’s austerity drive amid the pandemic has put a clamp on new infrastructure projects that cost more than Rs 1.5 crore.

According to sources in the state administration, the projects may be delayed indefinitely as the estimated cost of each bridge exceeds Rs 1.5 crore.

Sources said that groundwork of the majority of the 13 bridges is complete and cost estimates of 11 of these 13 bridges have been drawn up.

The bridges are slated to come up in districts such as South 24-Parganas, Howrah, Nadia and Murshidabad.

A source said altogether Rs 86.6 crore have to be spent for 11 bridges while the total outgo for all the 13 would be in excess of Rs 100 crore.

“The average cost of a bridge is around Rs 7 crore. This is the cause of concern for us as the finance department has allowed the department to spend only up to Rs 1.5 crore on a new project” said a PWD official.

“A survey after the Majerhat bridge mishap revealed that more than 50 bridges need to be replaced. A majority of these 13 bridges were in the list, but work for the new bridges taken up in the first phase is likely to be delayed owing to the poor financial condition of the state,” said a senior bureaucrat.

The final estimate for the Suryapur Bridge in South 24-Parganas, pegged at Rs 6.45 crore, was sent to Nabanna for approval a few months ago, but the finance department hasn’t cleared it.

The final approval for a bridge on Chunkhali-Jalangi road in Murshidabad is yet to be secured from Nabanna though the estimated cost was pegged at Rs 2.14 crore.

An official said that not only these projects, but the Talla Bridge, the state government’s priority project, estimated to cost Rs 348 crore, is also facing a financial crunch.

“About 60 per cent work for the project has been completed, but the department is running from pillar to post to get a sum of Rs 20 crore to pay the agency carrying out the project. In such a situation, the fate of other bridges is clearly evident,” said an official.

Sources said that recently the finance department has started an austerity drive under which departments like PWD and PHE were allowed to initiate new projects worth Rs 1.5 crore or less.

“It is clear from the Murshidabad project that the finance department is not clearing any project that crosses the Rs 1.5 crore mark. This is why the fate of the new bridges hangs in balance,” said a source.

In fact, projects like Maniktala bridge in Nadia, delayed because of the model code of conduct during the Assembly polls, was yet to secure approval as its projected cost has been pegged at Rs 7.73 crore, sources said.

“The construction of all these bridges are important given the poor condition of old bridges. We hope that the financial condition of the state improves over next few months, as with the new Covid cases are decreasing significantly, and that these projects are cleared,” said a source.