Encroachment is still posing a hurdle over timely completion of Marine Drive project. The ambitious project is part of Tata Steel’s western corridor project, aimed to ease heavy vehicles. The project has been delayed by encroachment issues on Kadma-Sonari side ever since construction started in June 2012.
The 10-km under-construction project worth Rs120-crore passing along Subernarekha river linking Sakchi-Kadma-Sonari to Adityapur Toll bridge was scheduled to end by June 2014 but after talks with the slum dwellers the work got a boost in September 2014 but a stretch of 50 metres along Sati Ghat with nearly 25-odd families refusing to relocate from their settlement has put a hurdle the Tata Steel’s logistic department earlier deadline of November end 2014.
According to sources the logistic department of Tata Steel has decided to go ahead with the completion of the road construction work with a hope of completion by mid-January. “We are working on the project. We tried our best to solve the issues but we cannot go on extending the project deadline over encroachment issues as there are logistics involved. We have resolved to go ahead with the construction of roads with a reduced width of lane on one side on the disputed site,” said an official. Road construction has been completed in almost 90 per cent of the 10 km stretch.
Officials informed that plantation of plants on the median will begin in January. Steps would be taken for the beautification of the road. Notably, the 10-kilometres-long marine drive is being set up to keep the steel city free from the movement of heavy vehicles from inside the city. The Rs 120 crores worth project which comes under the Tata Steel’s Wester Corridor Project was started in June 2012 and was scheduled to be end by June 2014. But due to the encroachment hurdle along Kadma side, the work was suspended at the side where there was encroachment.
It may be mentioned that in view of the expansion plans of Tata Steel and other Tata Group companies in Jamshedpur, Tata Steel limited had engaged reputed Consultant M/s l & T Rambole and M/s Consulting Engineering Services of Delhi to do a transport study of Jamshedpur. “The marine drive connecting Adityapur Toll Bridge at the Kadma end and the approach road on the Kadma end to the toll-bridge constitutes the marine drive project. We expect from January next year, the marine drive will be fully operational,” said the officer on condition of anonymity.
Notably, a motorable marine drive from Kadma connecting to Mango bridge was set up in 2006 with the work lying pending at several stretches of the marine drive due to encroachmenthurdle. But after Adityapur toll bridge became operational in July 2011, leading to the plying of heavy vehicles on the marine drive, the condition of the marine drive deteriorated fast. As a result of which the Tata Steel prompted to initiate step for reconstructing of a four-lane marinedrive.