After 5 yrs of delay, Jharkhand’s first expressway hits new roadblocks

RANCHI, MAY 9: The work on this road — the state Government-sponsored first six-lane expressway — is progressing at a snail’s pace. Construction work took five years to start after the inauguration. Still, there are many roadblocks that it faces.

Billed as Ring Road on the outskirts of the town, it has been divided into seven sections, entailing a total of 85.089 km.To begin with, its one section of 22.981 km is being built for the state Government at an estimated cost of Rs 203 crore by New Delhi-based Som Datt Builders Pvt Ltd (SDBPL) and Shrinet and Shandilya Construction Pvt Ltd (SSCPL). Once this section is complete, every single vehicle moving on NH-75 to enter NH-33 can zip off without getting caught in the traffic snarls of Ranchi town. “It will give a joyride to all those using it,” says Rajan Kumar, the project manager.

The expressway project was conceived by the NDA Government and inaugurated by Lal Krishna Advani on November 15, 2002. Five years later, a global tender was floated, and the construction work started after the state Government and the SDPL-SSPCL signed an agreement on June 5, 2007.

However, to check the quality of work being carried out by the companies, the Singapore-based HSSI and VKS Infratech Management Pvt Ltd, roped in by the state road construction department (RCD), and set up a lab near the site.

And this is what the report, prepared by RCD after reviewing the progress till April 5, states:

• A dozen electric poles carrying high-tension wire that were supposed to be removed by the Jharkhand State Electricity Borad continue to cause hindrance

• Dimensions shown in drawings are contradictory

• Dimension of median kerb shown in contract drawing is not correct

• Anti-land acquisition groups are coming in the way of execution of work due to non-payment against their land acquired

“We will stall the construction work if we are not paid the money by the end of this month,” said Mukesh Manjhi, secretary of Sarna Samiti. Asked why the people were not paid compensation for the land acquired, Secretary (RCD) N N Sinha said the implementation work was launched after the land was acquired and compensation was paid to almost every legitimate owner. But in case of those who had not furnished bonafide land records, scrutiny was being made. “Very soon their problem will be sorted out,” he said.

Factsheet

• Project conceived by NDA Govt in 2002

• Inaugurated on Nov 15, 2002

• Date of award of global bid: June 5, 2007

• Work commenced on June 28, 2007

• Date of completion of work: June 27, 2010

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