Karnal-Kunjpura road widening likely to miss March 31 deadline

BOX: Major roadblocks/hurdles or hiccups

– The PWD is yet to receive an NoC from the Irrigation Dept to build a bridge on the augmentation canal

– It is also awaiting the govt nod for making changes in road alignment near Newal village

– A slipway is proposed near ITI Chowk, but the land for it is yet to be transferred by Karnal ITI to the PWD

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, March 4

The four-laning project of the Karnal-Kunjpura road may miss its second deadline of March 31 as the work is going on at a snail’s pace.

Also, the Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) is yet to receive a no-objection certificate from the Irrigation Department to construct a bridge on the augmentation canal.

As per the plan, the department has to make changes in road alignment near Newal village for which the government is yet to give its nod.

Moreover, a slipway is proposed near ITI Chowk on this road, but the land for it is yet to be transferred by Karnal ITI to the PWD, said sources in the department.

With the aim to beautify the city along with making roads congestion-free, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced the widening of all entry roads to the city, including the Karnal-Kunjpura road. It is a major road as the Karnal Aviation Club is situated on it.

The four-laning of the 7.8-km stretch between Karnal and Kunjpura was started in August 2018. It was to be completed by the end of November 2019.

The project cost is around Rs 32 crore, including the construction of bridges and alignment of the road. The width of the road will be increased to 15 m from the existing 7 m. Apart from a passageway of 3 ft on each side, there will be of a 3-m central verge.

Later, the deadline was extended to March 31, 2020, by the government, the sources added.

The inconvenience to the commuters can be gauged from the fact that the road has been dug up at several places, disrupting the movement of vehicles. The residents alleged that the authorities had put the lives of two-wheeler riders at risk due to lack of signboards there.

“The work is on at a snail’s pace. The trenches along the road at various places pose serious accident threat in the night as there are a few signs indicating danger,” said Malak Singh, a local.

Tarun Kumar, another resident, demanded that the government should expedite the work as it is an important road.

PWD Executive Engineer Dalel Singh Dahiya is, however, hopeful that the work would finish by March-end. “I am hopeful that the widening work will be completed before the March 31 deadline,” he said, adding that the NoC from the Irrigation Department was pending due to their project of increasing the capacity of the augmentation canal. “We are hopeful of getting the NoC from the department as well as permission for change in alignment from the government,” Dahiya added.