The bridge was built on State Highway 60 by a private company Ashoka Group at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore on a Build, Operate and Transfer basis under orders from the state Public Works Department (PWD). Nearly 60 kms away from Pandharpur, the bridge is 90 metres long and has a two-lane carriageway of 7.5 metres.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, PWD minister Nitin Gadkari said the specifications of the bridge, necessary certificates from government departments and video footage of the bridge are being sent by the contract company to Guinness. It is believed that the verifications of these records are a formality, and that the inclusion of the bridge in the book is only a matter of time.

The stipulated time-period for the completion of the bridge was one year. However, the company had atarget of just 45 days. Ashoka Katariya, the managing director of the company, claimed that it was due to sheer determination and total co-operation between the company and the PWD that the work was completed ahead of schedule.

The bridge is likely to find a place in the Guinness Book under a new category -- `Permanent RCC bridge'. Presently, quick construction of bridges are done by the army in times of emergencies, but they are only temporary structures.

Nearly 250 workers and 20 engineers worked on the bridge non-stop for the 38 days in order to complete it in record time. A junior engineer of the PWD, P M Waghmare set an example for government servants by staying at the spot for the entire period with the workers. He was later given a public felicitation by the locals after the completion of construction on July 2.

The bridge will be thrown open to traffic by the minister on Thursday. The toll will be collected according to the guidelines issued by PWD and will be collected for eleven months in ayear.