The flyover which is under construction for the past many years on the Haridwar-Dehradun national highway near Haripur Kalan in the Motichoor area had picked pace just a month ago but now the monsoon showers have again halted the activity.
Further, the flyover construction work near Shankaracharya Chowk has been stopped for Kanwad Mela which will continue to the end of this month.
Till construction work on both the flyovers is incomplete, people will not get respite from the traffic jam which often occurs on these two locations while traversing on the national highway. An agreement was signed on January 23 this year with Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation Limited for the construction of 15 kilometre road stretch between Haridwar Dehradun national highway.
This project worth Rs 350 crore includes flyover construction, railway over-bridge and under-bridge. During the closure of railway crossing on Haridwar Dehradun highway there is a long traffic snarl.
It is a single track in Haridwar and Rishikesh- Dehradun and during the daytime several trains cross this area resulting in closure of the railway crossing.
The flyover work undergoing near Singh Dwar, Sarai and Patanjali areas in Haridwar district has added to the woes of the commuters. Speaking to The Pioneer, the project director National Highways Authority of India, Pradeep Gusain said, “The pending work of Haridwar Dehradun highway has been stopped for the monsoon and Kanwad Mela. We shall try to complete it before Kumbh Mela 2021.”
Notably the flyover which is being made in Haridwar over the escape channel of Ganga near Shankaracharya Chowk is worth Rs 44 Crore which is to be completed within a period of 18 months.
At present pillar construction was underway. During Kanwad Mela and other festival days this is the most crowded and busiest crossing near Har Ki Paidi. Water logging on national highway near Chandi Ghat and other bridges following monsoon showers has added to the woes of the commuters. Observers point out that with the Government focusing on ensuring a smooth and grand Kumbh Mela in 2021, these works are expected to be completed before that.
However, in the meantime, the public will have to face inconvenience for some more time.