Rs 122-cr flyover project to decongest Karnal: Admn

The construction work of two elevated flyovers in Karnal city is going on in full swing, with nearly 55 per cent of the work completed in nine months. The authorities are confident that the twin flyover project, aimed at decongesting the city’s busy roads, will be completed well before its scheduled deadline of January 2027.

The Rs 122-crore project officially commenced on January 17, 2025, almost 10 months after the foundation stone was laid by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on March 7, 2024. The work was jointly inaugurated by Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand and Mayor Renu Bala Gupta, marking the beginning of one of the city’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives under the Karnal Smart City Mission.

As per the officials associated with the construction agency, the first flyover, stretching from Rana Academy to Government College for Girls on Railway Road, will be 2.83 kilometres long and 9 metres wide. Supported by 60 pillars, this elevated structure is expected to provide seamless connectivity and ease the movement of vehicles in one of the city’s busiest corridors.

The second flyover, extending from Maharishi Valmiki Chowk to Ambedkar Chowk, will span 937 metres and have the same width of 9 metres. This section will rest on 25 pillars, bringing the total to 85 pillars for both flyovers combined.

As per the progress report, the foundation for 80 pillars has been completed, while 60 pillars have their sub-structure finished. The girder structure of 35 pillars and 50 pier caps have also been completed. Both flyovers are designed as two-lane structures without a central divider or footpath.

Abhishek Singla, managing director of Krishna Construction Company, the executing agency, said the work was going on in full swing. “We are confident of completing the project by the end of 2026, well before the January 2027 deadline,” he said. He said proper barricading has been done along the construction stretches to minimize inconvenience to nearby traders and residents.

Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh said he was reviewing the progress of the flyovers on a regular basis. “The construction agency has been instructed to ensure that the traders and shopkeepers do not face difficulties due to the ongoing work. I have also asked them to maintain the quality of construction and complete the project ahead of the schedule,” he said.

Singh emphasised that no negligence would be tolerated and that the officials from Karnal Smart City Ltd and the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) are closely monitoring the quality and pace of work. “These flyovers will cover major parts of the market area and are expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion once completed,” he added.

Initially, the project had faced delays due to public objections raised prior to the Lok Sabha elections, due to which it could not be started. The government started the work on this project after the Assembly elections. The Karnal police have already issued a traffic advisory to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles around the construction zones.