Dera Bassi flyover opened partially

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, May 24

The much-awaited Dera Bassi flyover, expected to ease traffic snarls, was partially opened today.

According to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials, one carriageway of the flyover was opened this morning bringing relief to thousands of commuters on the Ambala-Chandigarh stretch.

On an average, about 35,000 vehicles pass through Dera Bassi. 

NHAI project director OC Mathur said, “The Dera Bassi flyover would be  opened by July this year. One carriageway was opened today on a  trial basis.”

“Once it becomes fully operational, the flyover would facilitate commuters travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi  and residents of Dera Bassi,” Mathur added. 

It is learnt that with the construction of the 1.14-km-long flyover, the distance between Dera Bassi and Chandigarh will reduce by half an hour during peak hours. Now, long-distance travellers will not have to wait at traffic signals.

The width of the main road in Dera Bassi has also been increased to six metres. 

Experts said the length of the flyover was initially meant to be 920 metres. Later, the authorities extended it by 220 metres. 

The construction work of the project, which was started by Gawar Construction Private Limited in 2014, is expected to complete much before the deadline of October this year.

The flyover, built at the cost of Rs 90 crore, will be fourth on the 40-km Chandigarh-Ambala highway. 

There are about 10 dividers beneath the flyover, which have been created to pave way towards Barwala, Preet Nagar and the main market.