Chandigarh-Kharar highway project: Traffic diversion plans need Punjab govt’s nod

The ball seems to be in the Punjab government’s court to put the final stamp on the traffic diversion plans to facilitate the 10.2km Chandigarh-Kharar highway project.

The project entails widening of the road between Balongi and Kharar T-point, including two flyovers and three minor bridges. There will be a 3-km elevated road from the Balongi light point to Sunny Enclave and a road from Sunny Enclave to the BSNL building in Kharar. A 1.3-km elevated road will be constructed from the BSNL building to the Kharar T-point.

The contractor was asked to work during night but the vehicular traffic has been a hindrance. Tardy land acquisition process, lack of vehicular free construction site has delayed the work as only 35% work is complete as December 2018 deadline to finish the project looms.

Suggestions from the district administration were asked for diverting traffic from the construction site. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has suggested diverting heavy vehicles coming from Ropar side on Kurali-Siswan-Chandigarh road.

Another plan the district administration has prepared is to divert all the traffic from Kharar-Ropar road to Ludhiana road till Khanpur T-point. Sources said a suggestion, however red-flagged by the Mohali traffic police, has come to divert traffic on the Kharar-Landran road to keep Sunny enclave road free from traffic during night hours.

The administration on its own is not able to take the final call and due to this the deputy commissioner will take-up the matter with the public works department. The government has to come in on the issue of waiving toll off on the Siswan road at Kurali till the time vehicles are diverted there. The company’s tenure can be extended by the same period.

“It is not a big issue for the government as such provisions are there in the contract,” said a senior government functionary.

Decision will be taken soon: DC

Mohali deputy commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said all the stakeholders have given some suggestions. “I will talk to the higher-ups in the government. Soon, a decision will be taken to facilitate the project work.”

Regarding land acquisition, Sapra said, “I have asked the concerned official to speed up the process of acquisition and disbursal of pending compensation amount.”

The contractor has also raised the issue of drain water flowing on the road. “Due to improper drainage system, storm water from residential areas flows down the road. We have asked the NHAI to look into this,” said an official of Larsen and Toubro.

However the drainage department responded that there was a plan to lay a pipeline, which will be possible after the land is acquired. “Road is damaged due to storm water flow. The administration has been urged to take the corrective measures,” said project director KL Sachdeva.

“Suggestions to decongest the Kharar-Chandigarh road if implemented will reduce the completion time of project,” Sachdeva said.