Hubballi flyover unlikely to be ready by year-end

Hubballi: Even after facing sharp criticism over the delay, dust menace, damaged road stretches and traffic chaos, the construction of the much-hyped flyover at Channamma Circle and surrounding areas in the heart of Hubballi city is unlikely to be completed by the latest deadline of December-end.Aimed at traffic decongestion at Channamma Circle and the roads joining it at the epicentre of the City, the flyover project, during its implementation, has worsened traffic since it commenced in 2021.No takers for Smart City projects in HubballiAfter it faced several hiccups and missed multiple deadlines, the present deadline to complete the project implementation is just two months away now.However, a few works of the flyover are expected to be pending even at this year-end, and the flyover may take some more time to be totally ready for vehicular movement.As of now, officials say the progress of the flyover construction has been 80%, and executing this work at the busy city centre has been very challenging. Sources in the Public Works Department (PWD) National Highways division, which is executing the project, observed that the entire structure may be ready by December end, but finishing works may take some more time. CC roads are laid under the flyover arms, while road works are also underway on a few stretches.But completing the full stretch of rotary arms at Channamma Circle, ramps on Lamington Road and Vijayapura Road, completing road works, and connecting piers at Hosur Circle are still pending. BRTS bus stations in front of the HDMC are yet to be shifted. Girders have to be launched at Sangolli Rayanna Circle, and the ramp has to be completed at Hosur also.Hubballi: Flyover construction delay remains a pressing concernFunded by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, and being executed by the PWD NH division, the flyover with a total project cost of Rs 349 crore was projected to give a major facelift to mobility in the City.Concrete road stretches are also being developed under the flyover arms at an additional cost of Rs 13.9 crore sanctioned for road works, split-arm works and other aspects of the project.However, all these works have been troubling not just pedestrians and vehicle users, but also shopkeepers in the area. For first-time visitors, Channamma Circle is no less than any complicated maze dotted with poor road stretches and dust.Missed deadlinesWorks stopped for several months after a rod fell on the head of a police personnel and claimed his life; delay in land acquisition, labour shortage, and complications in shifting utilities were the major reasons for the delay in the progress of the flyover construction. The project of flyover arms of a total length of around 3.5 km with a rotary circle at the centre at Channamma Circle had the initial deadline for completion in June 2024 itself, and it missed a couple of more deadlines after that.“Maximum efforts are being put to complete the flyover construction by December end. Works are being expedited while roads are also being laid. Only a few works are left. I will also hold an inspection to ensure that works are completed fast,” said MLA Mahesh Tenginakai, who has been coordinating the project implementation.According to PWD NH division officer Satish Naganur, the contractor has agreed to complete the works by the end of December, and all efforts are being made in that direction. Girders are ready and they would be launched at remaining places soon, slab work would be taken up, while ramps would also be constructed fast, he added.Mahesh Tenginakai, MLAMaximum efforts are being put into completing the flyover construction by the end of December. Works are being expedited while roads are also being laid. Only a few works are left. I will also hold an inspection to ensure that the works are completed fast.

Source: Deccan Herald