Chandigarh’s First Flyover's Fate Depends On Road Ministry | DETAILS

Chandigarh: In a good news, Chandigarh is likely to get a flyover soon. This comes after the contractor — DRAIPL-DMR (JV) — showed its willingness to start the construction work on the Industrial Area flyover. The contractor has agreed to carry out the work at costs that were finalised at the time when the tender was awarded in 2019. The UT administration submitted an affidavit to the Punjab and Haryana high court in this regard. It has further approached the ministry of road, transport and highways (MoRTH) for clearance, and to restart the work.

The contractor has also submitted its consent for executing the work at the already awarded cost of Rs 137.40 crore. However, it has also asked that the additional charges will become payable from the base rate of the project, which is July 31, 2019. In 2019, a letter of acceptance was already issued to the contractor, said a media report.

According to the affidavit, the contractor has also asked for payment/reimbursement on account of royalty, cess, GST etc, said a media report. Along with that, escalation/price adjustment should be payable to the agency on the components set forth in the contract agreement.

It is worth noting that the administration has to obtain permission again from MoRTH for the project as it was delayed, and the contractor agreed to take up the project after a long gap.

The administration submitted to the court that the work was approved under Clause 1.1 of the technical note issued by the MoRTH dated Feb 11, 2019. The clause stated that the time limit for the project was six months, which had to be followed strictly. The contract may be de-sanctioned if the work is not awarded within the stipulated time unless the ministry’s prior approval to extension of the time limit, reported Times of India.

The flyover will span over 1.6 km. It will be built from near GMCH-32 roundabout up to the railway over bridge on Dakshin Marg. The flyover will pass over Tribune Chowk. The then UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore had laid the foundation stone on March 3, 2019, of the project worth Rs 184 crore, claimed Indian Express in its report.

The project was being touted as a solution to traffic mess that is witnessed near the area of Tribune Chowk. Consenting to the project, the UT forest department had also approved the felling of 472 trees. Of which, 143 were to be uprooted. However, the HC had stayed the uprooting and cutting of trees for the project in November 2019.