Construction of four overbridges in limbo

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, May 27

The construction material of four foot overbridges “dumped” near the Karneshwer temple in the city, Taraori, Kambopura and Uncha Samana on the National Highway-44 is corroding, causing loss to the exchequer, as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reportedly failed to deposit funds with the UHBVN to shift electricity lines.

The UHBVN, on July 25, 2017, sent an estimate of Rs 46 lakh to the NHAI, Ambala office, for shifting of lines near these foot overbridges and later sent a reminder on November 9, 2017. But the NHAI has not deposited funds so far, further delaying construction of foot overbridges, due to which residents face difficulties in crossing the NH-44. Several accidents have also taken place in the absence of the foot overbridges.

“Following the request of the NHAI for shifting the power lines in March 2016, the UHBVN had prepared the estimate and got it sanctioned,” said Dharam Suhaag, XEN, City, UHBVN.

Vijay Sharma, Project Director, NHAI, said they had received the estimates from the UHBVN, but the electricity wing of the NHAI was yet to check and approve it. “As soon as the budget is sanctioned, we will deposit it with the UHBVN,” he said.