Broken covers of drains on NH annoy commuters

Box: Project not completed

In 2008, the NHAI had awarded Rs4,500-cr project to convert the road into six lanes from Panipat to Jalandhar

The construction company claimed that they had completed the work on the sites provided by the NHAI, but a lot of work was lying incomplete

The project got several extensions, but the work on 3-ft overbridges to be installed in the district limits had not been completed

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, July 16

With monsoon around the corner, broken covers of drains on the National Highway-44, along with potholes, pose a threat to the commuters. The safety railings are also missing at several places on the 70-km stretch within district limits.

Even after spending crores on the project, drains are lying open at various places. Residents fear that the choked storm water drains could lead to accidents during the monsoon.

“We have brought the matter into the notice of the district administration, and have sent letters to the NHAI. The authorities should take action against the construction company, as the broken drains are causing accidents,” said Sahil Kumar, a local resident.

Neeraj Sharma of Model Town blamed the construction company for not taking care of the national highway even after charging exorbitant toll taxes. “The toll being charged by the company is very high, but the road is in a pathetic condition,” he added.

To make the NH-44 (it was NH-1 earlier) congestion-free, the NHAI, in 2008, had awarded the project costing around Rs 4,500 crore to convert the road into six lanes from Panipat to Jalandhar, a stretch of 291 km, comprising 116 km of Haryana and 175 km of Punjab.

It was to be executed as tolled project on design-build-finance-operate (DBFO) basis for 15 years. The work was started in May 2009 by the Soma-Isolux company and it was to be completed by November 11, 2011. In April 2014, the SC had asked the company to complete the work by March 31, 2015.

The construction company claimed that they had completed the work on the sites provided by the NHAI, but a lot of work was lying incomplete. After several extensions, the work of constructing 3-ft overbridges in the district limits, one each near Taraori, Karneshwar temple near Sector 7 and Kambopura village, was not finished.

The material of these overbridges was gathering dust along the national highway. Sunny Sharma, engineer, highway maintenance wing of the Soma comapany, said the maintenance work of the NH-44 was underway. “Carpeting of the road is being done. The process to install the overbridges has been started. The drains are being cleaned and repaired,” he said.

Nishant Kumar Yadav, DC, said instructions had been issued to the construction company to rectify the flaws on the NH-44.