Four-laning project of Chandigarh-Patiala road begins
The much-awaited four-laning project of accident-prone Chandigarh-Patiala road (the national highway- 64) began on Friday with a completion target of February 2017.
The much-awaited four-laning project of accident-prone Chandigarh-Patiala road (the national highway- 64) began on Friday with a completion target of February 2017.
The Rs 600-crore project to double the width of the 50-km road to 18m from 9m would be executed by Centrodorstroy India Private Limited, a subsidiary of a Russian construction agency.
The widening of the road has been a critical need of this region for some time. The detailed project report for the road documents that 25,000 vehicles travel on this 9-m narrow road with at least two fatal accidents on an average every day.
Public Works Department (PWD) national highway division will monitor the execution of the project. Executive director of the monitoring agency APS Brar said, “No delay is expected in meeting the construction deadline, as necessary land acquisition has been done.”
Project in-charge Rupesh Agarwal said, “As of now, we are clearing roadside shrubs and have engaged workers for cleaning work. Widening work is on simultaneously.”
He added the construction had been sequenced in manner decided by the ministry of road transport and highways.
“We will, in all circumstances, hand over the four-laning project to the ministry as per the set deadline,” he added.
First phase involves widening, construction of 28-km stretch
The first phase involves the widening and construction of 28-km stretch from Zirakpur to Gagan Chowk in Rajpura. This involves the construction of one flyover, four VUPs and 3 foot over-bridges.
The second phase involves construction of 24-km stretch from Rajpura-Patiala bypass to Sirhind bypass near the Urban Estate, Patiala. En route, there will be construction work on one railway over bridge, two flyovers, one VUP and 2 foot over-bridges.
The total width of the road will be increased to 18m (9m each side) from the current width of 8.5m.
3 flyovers, 5 vehicular under passes, a rly overbridge to be built
Three flyovers with five vehicular under passes and one railway over bridge are on the drawing sheet. Construction will start from Zirakpur and finally be completed at Sirhind bypass near Patiala’s Urban Estate.