Overpass nearing completion, Solan traffic chaos to ease

Area facing an overwhelming rush ever since lockdown restrictions were lifted

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“The work was in the final stages and traffic will be diverted through the overpass in the next few weeks. The work force is engaged in the work round the clock with senior project officials supervising it.” Project manager, GR Infraprojects

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 15

Construction of an overpass nearing completion, traffic chaos at Saproon Chowk in Solan town will soon be a thing of the past.

Being part of the Kalka-Shimla national highway, the spot currently is facing an overwhelming rush of vehicles ever since the lockdown restrictions were lifted on June 28. In view of the construction of an overpass, only a part of the road was available for the vehicular traffic and this was creating daily traffic jams at Saproon Chowk and its nearby areas. As the vehicles moved at a snail’s pace the commuters had to spend a lot of time in the midst of the traffic.

Vehicles on the Chandigarh-Shimla route and vice versa will use the overpass for commuting on the highway while local traffic will be diverted through the underpass.

The construction of the overpass, which began in September last year, comprised laying a retaining wall all along the excavated hill, followed by construction of an 11-m service road in the first phase. A 22×11 m box was excavated in the next phase which enabled diversion of the local traffic on the slabs constructed above it.

“A four-lane ramp was finally being constructed in the last phase for diverting traffic on the national highway” informed Balwinder Singh, project manager, GR Infraprojects.

“The work was in the final stages and traffic will be diverted through the overpass in the next few weeks. The work force is engaged in the work round the clock with senior project officials supervising it,” said Singh.

About 50,000 saplings of local species are being planted on the slopes along the Saproon Chownk as a slope protection measure.

With the advent of the apple transportation season, which will continue till October 15, the police was facing an arduous task in ensuring smooth movement of the traffic on the highway.

Superintendent of Police, Solan, Abhishek Yadav, said, “A request to send two reserves has been made to the police headquarters in view of the apple transportation season which will go on till October 15. The additional force will be stationed at vulnerable points where construction activities were underway and at Sabzi Mandi at Kather and near Timber Trail Resorts near Parwanoo.”

He added that a detailed traffic management plan has been chalked out in view of the apple transportation season when hundreds of trucks will use this highway.