Four JNNURM projects get Rs 32.67 cr succour

The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of the sub-mission on urban infrastructure and governance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has sanctioned Rs 32.67 crore as the second installment of four projects, with three being at Ahmedabad and one at Vadodara.

The three major projects at Ahmedabad include the Rs 18.51 crore four-lane road overbridge at Omkar crossing with a total Central share of Rs 6.47 crore. With CSMC sanctioning Rs 1.61 crore as part of the second installment and the Railway Board's approval also on its way, the bridge is expected to be completed by June 2009.

The second installment has also come in for the Rs 59.14 crore stormwater drainage system in the West Zone of Ahmedabad. With CSMC sanctioning the second installment of Rs 5.17 crore from the Centre's share of Rs 20.69 crore, the stormwater drainage is not far from completion. The Committee has also cleared Rs 7.66 crore as part of the second installment of the Central share of Rs 30.66 crore towards the construction of the 12 km Pirana-RTO stretch of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in Ahmedabad. The total cost of the first phase is Rs 87.50 crore.

Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam said the main reason behind the delay in bridge projects is the amount of time taken in getting clearance from the Railway authorities. “Projects are also delayed because of the mismatch in agencies, such as trying to achieve a balance between the railway and AMC contractors,” he said.

D Thara, Director of JNNURM projects, said that AMC has also forwarded the claim for the next installments, worth Rs 20 crore for its ongoing projects under JNNURM.