NAGPUR district is celebrating a proud moment as the 700-meterlong cable-stayed bridge with a sky gallery at the top, located in Ambhora, Kuhi tehsil, has been selected by the Public Works Departament (PWD) as the best bridge in Maharashtra for its innovative construction. The bridge is located approximately 70 km from Nagpur city. Construction of the cable-stayed bridge began in 2019, following a Rs 143 crore contract awarded by the State PublicWorks Department, and was completed in 2024. The bridge was opened for traffic in January 2024. According to PWD officials, the Ambhora bridge was chosen as the best bridge, while the Headquarters of the State Excise Department at Boribandar was recognised as the best building, and Ashtavinayak Parikrama Marg in Pune has been honoured as the best road. The Government Resolution in this regard was issued by the State Government on Thursday. The Ambhora bridge, noted for its innovative design, is the longest purely cable-stayed bridge in India which stretches 700 meters in length and 15.26 meters in width. The bridge is supported by five pylons constructed in the Wainganga River, with the central pylon reaching a height of 40 meters.

 

A viewing gallery at the top of the central pylon has been developed to enhance tourism. From the viewing gallery, visitors can enjoy scenic views of the backwaters across the riverbed, which is more than 50 feet deep. Visitors can access the gallery via two capsule-sized lifts or a staircase. The gallery features a carpet area of 325 square meters and is covered with super-thick glass. The bridge also includes footpaths on both sides and two lanes, each 7.5 meters wide, allowing simultaneous travel for four fourwheelers. The bridge has boosted tourism at the Shree Chaitanyeshwar Mahadev Temple in Ambhora and has spurred development in the backward areas of Kuhi and Umred tehsils. The State Government is also working to introduce watersports near the bridge in the backwaters of the Gosikhurd project.