The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and opened a new permanent bridge on the river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country.

The bridge has been opened ahead of its schedule. The enclave of around 35 sq km had hitherto been connected via pontoon bridge of limited load capacity.

The 484 mtr bridge was built by 141 Drain Maintenance Coy of 49 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) of Project Chetak. The Border Roads Organisation conceived and planned for a permanent bridge.

The bridge costing Rs 17.89 crore, excluding the approaches, consists of 16 cells of 30.25 mtr length each.

The pontoon bridge used to be dismantled every year prior to the monsoon or else it would have got washed away in the strong currents of the river.

The local population and the Army (by virtue of the sensitivity of the enclave) required a Class 70 permanent bridge to give all weather connectivity to the enclave.

The 16th and last Cell Division was completed on 15 March 2020 and construction of protective works was under progress when the work came to a halt on 23 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Border Roads had approached the Punjab government and Gurdaspur district administration and obtained necessary approvals to continue the work.