Nishtar Ghat Boat Bridge, Mithankot, Chachran Sharif, Indus River

Kot Mithan - Chachran Sharif

Nishtar Ghat Bridge

The Nishtar Ghat Bridge also known as the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Bridge to connect Chachran Sharif (Rahimyar Khan District) with Mithankot (Rajanpur District) across the Indus River.

Historical Background

In 1958, Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar announced the construction of a boat bridge at Indus River to connect Kot Mithan with Chachran Sharif. This temporary boat bridge was completed within a year and served the local population for several decades. However, due to seasonal flooding and rising water levels in the Indus River, the boat bridge was often dismantled during high water periods to prevent damage.

Recognizing the need for a permanent solution, the foundation stone for a regular bridge was laid in 2010 by then-Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. Construction of the BBS Bridge commenced in 2012 and was completed in 2016, providing a reliable and permanent crossing over the Indus River.

History of Nishtar Ghat

Nishtar Ghat (Mithan Kot-Chachran Sharif) is an important crossing over River Indus. It connects Mithan Kot (District Rajanpur) on right bank of river Indus to Chachran Sharif (District Rahimyar Khan) on its left bank. Peoples from Rajanpur, Jampur, Rojhan and surrounding areas use this river crossing to reach Rahimyar Khan and District Bahawalpur. The steel boat bridge is installed at Nishtar Ghat site during winter season whereas ferry service operates during summer season when the flow in the river increases considerably.

This steel boat bridge was first Time installed in the year December 1996 between Mithan Kot and Chachran by the order of the President of Pakistan. The distance between Mithan Kot and Chachran Sharif is reduced considerably by traveling along this steel boat bridge route where earthen service track is being constructed, maintained in the river bed every year to connect the boat bridges to the metalled roads up to Mithan Kot on one side of the river and Chachran on the other side. The length of this earthen track is about 25 kilometer depending upon the location of the steel boat bridges on various creeks of the river.

As per survey carried out in the bed of River Indus at Nishtar Ghat site there are usually five (5) main live creeks where water flows throughout the year and steel boat bridges are installed over these creeks. Some nominal creeks (other than the Five mentioned above) dry up or enormously reduce in discharge and are, then, plugged or bridged over by laying R.C.C. pipes, resulting in some rise in the flow of main creeks.

The service road shall be constructed in the river bed by laying pilchi frash or sarkanda on the dressed river bed after laying sand cushion to improve the bearing capacity of the soil. Dressing of the service road is carried out departmentally for the convenience of the boat bridge users throughout the period the boat bridge remains installed by employing regular/temporary labour. The approaches to the creeks are also raised by earth work to avoid suspension of traffic by spill of the river on the service road. Temporary road structures shall have to be provided using sutiable RCC pipes wherever required so that the seepage water or the irrigation water courses can flow without hindering the traffice, stone boulders and direction boards / direction walls etc, shall have to be provided indicating the direction of the both service roads for the convenience of the road users.

To provide proper facility to travel along the bed of river provision of construction of 25 Kilometers katcha service road has been made according to Technial Memo No.7 and shall be maintained departmentally by using T&P articles as per yardstick. A water lorry, toe-type water tank, a Motor grader will also be deployed as and when required for maintenance of the katcha service roads. Earthen ramps have to be provided on both sides of each boat bridge. All sorts of safety measures shall be taken in accordance with the instructions contained in the Technical.

The Nishtar Ghat Bridge, also known as the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Bridge, is a significant infrastructure project in Pakistan designed to connect Chachran Sharif (Rahimyar Khan District) in Punjab with Mithankot in Rajanpur District across the Indus River. This bridge aims to link the National Highway N-5 (GT Road) with the Indus Highway N-55, enhancing connectivity between Punjab and Balochistan.

Project Overview

Project Name: Nishtar Ghat Bridge (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Bridge
Location: Over the Indus River, connecting Chachran Sharif and Mithankon
Client: National Highway Authority (NHA)
Estimated Cost: Approximately PKR 5.49 billions
Design Features: –
- Two-lane bridge with each lane 3.65 meters wide
- Includes a railway overhead bridge and two canal bridge
- Features pedestrian walkways, guide banks, river training works, and other protective structure.

Historical Timeline

1988: The project was initially announced by then-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
2002: Construction commenced but faced delays due to various challenge.
2009: The project was handed over to the NHA, and its design received approval in 201.
2010: Major floods necessitated a realignment of the project, requiring detailed model studies.
2012: Progress stalled due to financial constraints and land acquisition issue.
2017: Reports indicated that the main bridge structure was completed, with ongoing work on access road.

Significance

The completion of the Nishtar Ghat Bridge is expected to:

Provide a direct route between southern Punjab and northern Balochistan, reducing travel time and distance.
Facilitate economic growth by improving transportation of goods and mobility of people.
Enhance regional connectivity, contributing to national integration and development.