Admn fails to get consultant for Tribune flyover, yet again

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

For the third time, the Chandigarh Administration has failed to get consultant for flyover project at Tribune Chowk.

Sources said the Engineering Department has extended the time for a week to receive applications after it failed to get the response.

The department floated the tender again for the consultant after it failed to get anyone in the second attempt.

The tender for appointment was to be opened in last week, but the time has been extended after no one applied for the same. The department invited fresh expression of interest after relaxing the terms and conditions for the consultant.

Recently, MP Kirron Kher also took up the case with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to ask consultants empanelled with the National Highways Authority of India to take over the work.

The Administration sought services of the consultant to prepare a comprehensive plan on the type of flyover to ease traffic on the roundabout. The Administration has already prepared a tentative estimate of around Rs 300 crore for the project.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave nod to the Chandigarh Administration to engage the consultant for the preparation of the detailed project report for the construction of the flyover at the Tribune Chowk in December 2016.

Soon after the approval, the Administration tried to engage the consultant for two times, but no consultancy firm came forward due to strict terms and conditions. The consultant will prepare the comprehensive plan on the type of the flyover to ease out the traffic congestion from Tribune Chowk to Zirakpur.

Chaos prevails at busiest roundabout

While Tribune Chowk is one of the busiest roundabouts of the city, traffic lights remain non-functional most of the time here adding to the woes of commuters. Traffic lights installed at the roundabout also don’t have the timer. Officials of the Engineering Department say they will look into the problem and timers will be installed.