Highways contractors fined for delay
New deadline of December 2014 has been set for the contractor to complete all works.
Chennai: The state highways department has imposed hefty fines on two contractors for inordinate delay in the execution of the Moolakadai flyover and Vysarpadi road overbridge on the Grand Northern Trunk Road.
The contractor of the Moolakadai flyover has been served a notice asking him to pay a fine of Rs 1 crore, while the contractor of Vysarpadi ROB was asked to pay Rs 14 lakh for the delay, sources in the highways department told DC.
Though the department had issued work termination notice to both contractors, this was withdrawn subsequently after they promised to speed up works, the official said. Work on the construction of the Rs 49.55 crore flyover at Moolakadai junction on GNT road was initially hit due to delay in land acquisition and shifting of water pipelines, but these were cleared subsequently.
As of date, only 40 per cent of the total work has been completed even though the construction of the four-lane flyover began in February 2011. “We have fixed a new deadline of December 2014 for the contractor to complete all works,” the official added.
The contractor has assured to complete the laying of the service road on the Madhavaram-Shanmugha theatre stretch by February, the official said.
Work on the Rs 80 crore Vyasarpadi ROB to replace the existing vehicular subway began in March 2010 under the highways department and southern railway, and was aimed at facilitating the smooth flow of vehicles on GNT road.
The Y–shaped ROB takes off on Basin Bridge road and one of the arms lands on GNT road and the other, on Sathyamurthy Nagar main road. A highways department official said the contractor was asked to complete the Sathyamurthy Nagar main road arm of the bridge by March this year. Here, there has been a delay in shifting the sewage lines.
Though about 60 per cent of all works, including those of the railways, have been completed so far, the entire bridge construction work would take at least a year to complete, the official said.
Next: Thirumangalam flyover will miss deadline again
Thirumangalam flyover will miss deadline again
Chennai: Motorists will be dismayed to know that the Thirumangalam flyover works will miss the March deadline again due to non-availability of earth materials to construct approach ramps.
The flyover, which will facilitate smooth flow of traffic across two intersections – Anna Nagar 2nd avenue and Mogappair road junction on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai - was hit by the state government’s ban on mining, said sources in the highways department.
“Contractors are not even able to procure earth materials from other state as the cost is three to four times higher the department’s scheduled rate. Hence, ramp work is not progressing,” the official said, adding that works on the main portion of the flyover are progressing.
The proposed pedestrian subway work is yet to begin. To ensure free movement of pedestrians, the highways department proposed to construct a subway connecting Mogappair road with Anna Nagar 15th main road as part of the ongoing flyover works. However, the official said work could not be taken up due to delay in land acquisition.
Work on the Rs 60 crore flyover gathered momentum after the Chennai corporation shifted stormwater drains and the TNEB moved its cables. So far, the contractor has completed 70 per cent of the works on the 805-metre-long flyover.
The foundation stone for the flyover was laid in December 2010. On either side of the flyover, a 7.5 metre-wide service road will be provided. Construction of stormwater drains and a 2.25 metre-wide pedestrian footpath are also proposed.
K. Venu, a chartered accountant, said due to ongoing flyover works, motorists are taking a detour to reach Aminjikarai, Koyambedu or Vadapalani. “During peak hours, traffic moves at a very slow pace, affecting especially students and office-goers. They have to speed up works to ensure opening of the flyover at the earliest,” he said.