The State Public Works Department (PWD) would soon take up construction work for a flyover across Ring Road number 1 near Kashiram Nagar on Canal Road from MMI Hospital (NH-30) till the Bus Stand in Raipur, officials stated.
Notably, the State Urban Administration Department is also planning to improve infrastructure around the Raipur Railway Station area to comprehensively address the traffic congestion problems.
The prime objective is to mitigate the traffic congestion problems in roads connecting to Devendra Nagar, Fafadih, Railway Station area, Telghani Naka and Agrasen Chowk, officials stated.
A Techno-Economic Feasibility Study (TEFS) and Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for the project so that the infrastructure to be developed looks aesthetically pleasing. The Station Road area would have Flyover alongwith appropriate roads and junctions.
The project is being funded under the budget of the Chhattisgarh government.
The Feasibility Report and Detailed Project Report for construction of the flyover and the roads with existing traffic congestions would be improved in most economical manner but consistent with the requirements of safe and smooth travel and to establish technical, economical, environmental, social and financial viability of project.
The State government has commenced the process of constructing a total of 20 by-pass roads to ease traffic in various cities of the State.
A budget provision of Rs 56 crore had been made in the State budget 2015-16 for the construction of the by-pass roads, officials stated.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat had informed early this year that that by-pass roads would help ease traffic congestion in the various cities of the State. Moreover, the State government has started ensuring better rural roads for regions in proximity to industrial zones near Raipur.
The State Government has sanctioned more than ` 1 crore for asphalting of these roads, officials said. In some bold decisions taken up in the State budget 2015-16, which are targetted to build up infrastructure, the State government has plans to upgrade all state highways and roads connecting district and block headquarters to double-lane roads.
In addition, 2,000 km of existing roads will be upgraded in the PPP mode, with an estimated investment of RS 10,000 crore. Besides, Rs 700 crore have been allocated for rural connectivity, for roads not covered under Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Scheme.
Moreover, the Central government had approved a revised cost of Rs3045 crore under its Road Requirement Plan (RRP) for improvement of road connectivity in left Wing Extremism (lWE) affected areas of Chhattisgarh.
Notably, Chhatisgarh’s Public Works Department (PWD) is also setting up a separate Cell to endorse design of bridges before they are constructed in the State.
State PWD Minister Rajesh Munat while chairing a meeting of the Bridge divisions of the Department here recently had directed officials to form a ‘Separate Cell’ to endorse design of bridges.
The Minister also directed the officials to have a board put up at every bridge construction site mentioning when the project was approved, the period in which the project is to be completed, project outlay, the name of the Contractor and the Engineer involved with the project.
It was informed in the meeting that a total of 142 works had been approved for a total of six Bridge Divisions of the Department. Out of the 142 works, a total of 12 works have been stopped for which the PWD Minister directed to restart the work.
Munat said that stern action would be taken against officials if they don’t complete works under the stipulated time frame. Notably, the PWD is in the process of constructing as many as eight Railway over bridges and two under bridges in the State at a cost of `284.37 crore. Out of `284.37 crore being spent on the projects, Rs 265.29 crore is being utilised for construction of eight over bridges and `19.8 crore is being spent on construction of two under bridges.
PWD Minister Rajesh Munat has directed officials to ensure the construction work of the bridges meet high quality standards. The State government had sent proposals to the Centre for construction of 294 roads worth `1023.51 crore and construction of 103 bridges worth `1318 crore for financial year 2014-15.