Traffic, land acquisition pangs delay Chandigarh-Kharar highway project - Hindustan Times
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Traffic, land acquisition pangs delay Chandigarh-Kharar highway project

Hindustan Times, Mohali | By, Mohali
Jul 17, 2018 10:22 AM IST

The contractor says only 35% work has been done and it will take at least 20 more months for completion, given it is handed over the remaining land on time and is provided traffic-free road to construct the flyover.

With the government still to acquire 55% land and the contractor finding it difficult to carry out construction on the congested stretch, the 10-km Chandigarh-Kharar highway project is set to miss its December deadline.

The project entails widening of the road between Balongi and Kharar T-point, including two flyovers.(HT Photo)
The project entails widening of the road between Balongi and Kharar T-point, including two flyovers.(HT Photo)

The project that began in September 2015 was to be completed by December 2018. However, now the contractor says only 35% work has been done and it will take at least 20 more months for completion, given it is handed over the remaining land on time and is provided traffic-free road to construct the flyover.

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The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) had handed over the Rs 369-crore project to Larsen & Toubro to facilitate movement of 50,000 vehicles on the busy road daily.

The project entails widening of the road between Balongi and Kharar T-point, including two flyovers and three minor bridges. There will be a 3-km elevated road from the Balongi light point to Sunny Enclave and a road from Sunny Enclave to the BSNL building in Kharar. A 1.3-km elevated road will be constructed from the BSNL building to the Kharar T-point.

Working just at night

The company has been working at night but traffic on the busy road is making the going tough.

“Around 20, 000 vehicles ply on this road daily. Working during the night is also not possible,” said an engineer, who did not wish to be named. “If the situation remains the same, this project will never be completed.”

The firm recently asked the NHAI to provide traffic-free space to it, following which the authority urged the district administration to divert the traffic from this busy road.

“We are resolving the issues coming our way. Due to poor drainage system, even water keeps accumulating on the highway, hampering the work. We have also urged the district administration to ban traffic movement on the road for at least a month,” said NHAI project director KL Sachdeva. 

The NHAI said if the work is allowed only during the night, project completion would take more time. 

However, deputy commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said: “I have not received any such report or proposal so far. As far as the Kharar road project is concerned, they can approach us with a feasible alternative. We are open to it.” 

The company, NHAI and district administration have varying stands even on land acquisition.

While the firm claims they have been handed over just 45% of the land, the NHAI says it has disbursed whole compensation amount to the administration. The administration, meanwhile, cites various issues in land acquisition.

The firm’s consultant said if 100% land is provided to them today besides cooperation with regards to traffic, the project would take 20 months to be completed.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Saurabh Chauhan is a correspondent reporting from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, covering Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Agriculture. Previously reported from Mohali (Punjab), Shimla (HP) and covered Political, Civil Admin, Finance beats.

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