Centre’s nod for widening Karnal-Kunjpura road

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 17

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accorded environment clearance for four-laning the Karnal-Kunjpura road, one of the busiest and congested roads leading to the city.

The PWD has to deposit Rs 2.46 crore in the account of the union ministry to start work on widening of the road for which 1,364 matured trees and 255 plants would have to be axed.

“The ministry has given environment clearance in principle for the four-laning of a 7.5-km stretch from Karnal city to Kunjpura village,” said Vijender Singh, District Forest Officer (DFO). The DFO said the permission to axe these trees would be granted after the money was deposited with the ministry by the PWD.

Traffic jams are currently routine on this road due to a heavy traffic. The widening of this road has been a long-pending demand of residents of the city.

Yogesh Bharti, a local resident, said the government should also take steps to rid this road of encroachments, one of the major reasons for its overcrowding. He also demanded a slip road near ITI Chowk .