Traders, lakhs of people in different colonies to get affected
*CCI President says will again take up issue with Gadkari
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 27: Even after continuous protests from the traders and people the work on Kunjwani-Narwal flyover with blind walls is going on at a fast pace as Project Directors of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have not received any written instruction from the top brass to stop the construction. Moreover, they claim that change in design of the flyover at this juncture will lead to enormous escalation in cost of the project.
EXCELSIOR has come to know from the officers of the NHAI executing the project on ground that no written instruction has been sent to them by the headquarters till date about stopping of the work on the flyover with blind walls. “We are carrying out the work at the required pace so as to meet the timelines fixed for the completion of project”, they added.
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“The decision about construction of flyover with blind walls was taken at the time of preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Delhi-Katra Expressway and we came in the picture only at the stage of the execution so we cannot be blamed by the traders or the people”, they further said, adding “this model of flyover is adopted in areas where ample land is available while as flyover with pillars is constructed in the congested areas”.
They further said, “flyovers with blind walls are generally considered as economical as compared to flyovers with pillars and this aspect might have been given importance at the time of preparation of Detailed Project Report”, adding “changing design of the flyover at this stage especially when contracts have been awarded and casting/ fabricating works carried out at several places, will lead to huge escalation in cost of the project as well as delay”.
It has also come to fore that not only between Kunjwani and Narwal the flyovers with blind walls will also be constructed in several other locations from Narwal towards Katra except in the areas where seasonal nullahs flow.
The stance of the NHAI has given a major blow to the traders and people, who were expecting some relief especially after the meetings of local leaders and office bearers of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
The flyover with blind walls will badly affect the business establishments on both sides of the highway right from Kunjwani up to Narwal and at many other places enroute Katra. Everybody is of the opinion that pillar based flyover should have been considered for the expressway in the light of the fact that even several hospitals, schools and residential colonies are located on both sides.
Commenting on non-stop work on the flyover with blind walls, President of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arun Gupta said, “it is really astonishing that NHAI has geared up the work ever since the people have started raising voice. Nobody is against the construction of flyover but the only objection is raising of blind walls, which will badly affected the business of each and every establishment”.
“Flyover with blind walls is generally not preferred in the city areas but we are unable to understand why this model was selected for Kunjwani-Narwal flyover. This decision is senseless and is aimed at harassing the public”, he further said, adding “Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had personally spoken to the NHAI Chairman after we vociferously raised the issue but it is really shocking that work is still being executed that too at a fast pace”.
He disclosed that after meeting with Union Minister a delegation also called on Project Director of NHAI responsible for execution of work between Kunjwani-Narwal and he had conveyed that they were reviewing the demand of the public.
“Now, we have been left with no other option but to again meet Union Minister to seek his further intervention as earlier directions from the Ministry have not yielded the desired results”, JCCI president said in response to a question while assuring the people that Chamber will keep on supporting their demand.
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