Dehradun gets its first flyover

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 25

Chief Minister Harish Rawat today inaugurated the city’s first flyover at the Balliwala crossing at a function here today. He said the flyover would be named Shridev Suman Setu.

Rawat also said that alternative public transportation system like metro or monorail would be developed to connect the cities of Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. He said underpasses would be construction at Clock Tower and Gandhi Park in the city.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister instructed the officials concerned to complete the service lane at the earliest. He issued directives to officials to increase the railing height of the flyover for security reasons and ensure proper drainage system at the flyover.

The two-lane flyover was constructed for Rs 40.42 crore on the National Highway 7 under Special Planned Assistance (SPA).

“The state government will take more steps to improve the public transportation system in order to overcome the problem of traffic congestion in Dehradun. Traffic has increased manifold in different cities of the state over the years,” he said, adding that it was the duty of residents to park their vehicles at designated places and strictly follow traffic rules and regulations.

Marred by controversies, slow construction, flyover delayed by two years

After missing the deadline on several occasions, the city’s first flyover at Balliwala was finally dedicated to public on Monday. The flyover gained attention as sluggish construction work irked residents for the past three years.

The foundation stone of the flyover was laid in March 2013 and the first deadline was set for the flyover in 2014.

The flyover was conceived to ease the traffic pressure at Balliwala but it had become a major cause for traffic jam since the construction work started.

The life of people living around Balliwala was made miserable due to long traffic jams at Balliwala intersection and adjoining localities.

Residents and shopkeepers near the Balliwala chowk were up in arms against the delay. The roads had become narrower due to the pillars of flyovers, resulting in inconvenience to commuters.

Residents alleged that the state government had passed the design of the flyover by violating the National Highway Act. The BJP legislators had held demonstrations against the Congress –led state government as the government had decreased the lanes of the flyover from four to two in the past.

The political parties had moved court against the design of the flyover and acquiring of private property for its construction. The flyover was constructed at a cost of Rs 40.42 crore on the National Highway-7 under Special Planned Assistance (SPA).