GRSE Secures Contract with NHIDCL to Supply Double-Lane Modular Steel Bridges for Border Connectivity

State-owned Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) has secured a significant contract with the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) to supply and launch double-lane Class 70 modular steel and bailey bridges. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aims to enhance infrastructure in key forward areas along India’s borders, facilitating smoother troop and equipment movement.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Krishan Kumar, IAS, Managing Director of NHIDCL, and Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, in the presence of senior officials from both organizations, including Shri Anshu Manish Khalkho, IDAS, Director (A&F) of NHIDCL, and DIG Subrato Ghosh, ICG (Retd.), Director (Personnel) of GRSE.

GRSE’s double-lane steel bridge, the first indigenous solution of its kind, aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan initiative. These Class 70R bridges, specifically designed by GRSE, are intended to bolster connectivity in critical regions, ensuring timely and efficient deployment of military resources.

GRSE has a proven track record in this domain, having already supplied 44 similar bridges across India under an MoU with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The inaugural bridge was constructed at Flaghill, Dokalam, Sikkim, at an altitude of 11,000 feet under Project Swastik and was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on December 28, 2021.

These modular bridges feature a 7.5-meter-wide carriageway, allowing two-way traffic, and comply with the specifications set by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH). Their modular design ensures easy transportation of components to remote locations and allows for the rapid erection of bridges within 30 to 45 days.

In August 2022, GRSE became the only Indian entity to receive the prestigious Green Channel Certification from the Indian Army for portable steel bridges (Bailey Type). GRSE’s portable steel bridge division has achieved notable innovation through extensive research and development, resulting in the production of advanced portable bridge designs.

To date, GRSE has supplied over 5,700 portable steel bridges to various organizations, including the Indian Army, BRO, NHIDCL, State Public Works Departments, and the Central Government. Initially developed for disaster management, these bridges have also gained international acclaim, with exports to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.