Work on Bikram Chowk flyover set to begin next month

Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Mar 2: Construction work on mega flyover project from Bikram Chowk to Government Women College Gandhi Nagar is likely to commence next month as its tendering process is in final stage and formal allotment of the job may be done in next few days.
On Monday, the prize bid is being forwarded by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters in Manila for its formal clearance there and the file is likely to be received back here by mid of March, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Thereafter, sources added, the remaining formalities for allotment of work by ERA to the successful bidder are likely to be completed by end of this month and construction work of the flyover may begin by first week of April, sources added.
The upcoming flyover from Bikram Chowk to Government Women College Gandhi Nagar will be completed in three years and total cost of the project is Rs 95 crores.
The allied work for construction of the flyover, such as widening of road from Bikram Chowk to GCW Gandhi Nagar is already on as no major hurdle has been encountered for the same, sources informed.
Boundary walls of Kala Kendra, the Women College, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation headquarters, PHE office etc are being pushed backward while formalities for shifting of Alson Motors and Paramjeet Filling Station opposite Hotel Asia are also in advanced stage at Government level. Alternate land is being provided to Alson Motors and Paramjeet Filling Station at SRTC Yard  and the process for preparing lease transfer documents is going on while compensation to the affected parties has already been given, sources informed.
The 1.3 kilometer long flyover, being executed by Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), will go a long way in reducing the traffic congestion in the capital city Jammu, particularly on this stretch of the road, which leads to City from the Airport and Jammu-Pathankote National Highway via Satwari.
Even as a proposal for extending this proposed flyover from the Women College to Satwari was submitted by the local MLA and Minister for Housing and Culture Raman Bhalla a few months ago, no decision on the same has been taken by ERA.
According to the sources, no change was affected in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and length of the flyover would remain 1.3 kilometer from Bikram Chowk to Gandhi Nagar Women College.