Construction of flyover to start on Feb 25

Our Correspondent
Phagwara, February 19

After postponing the floating of tenders for the construction of an elevated flyover on the National Highway in Phagwara for the tenth time, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will start construction of flyover from February 25.

This was stated by the Union Minister of State, Vijay Sampla while talking to mediapersons here yesterday.

He said the Union Minister for Transport Nitin Gadkari would lay the foundation stone of the flyover on February 25.

Because of the controversy over the construction of the flyover, due to the tussle between former state BJP president Vijay Sampla and Phagwara MLA Som Parkash and their supporters, the construction that started in 2016 was stopped after a few days by the construction company.

The NHAI blamed the Municipal Corporation (MC) that it was in favour of a solid bridge and had asked for more under paths.

Officials of the NHAI said the NHAI was planning an elevated flyover but the MC authorities had opposed it and the project was scrapped.

On the other hand, Phagwara MLA Som Parkash and the MC authorities claimed that they had never opposed the construction of elevated flyover.

The issue had become a bone of contention for the factions, led by MLA Som Prakash and Vijay Sampla and parties, including the Congress, BJP (Sampla group), Shiv Sena, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BSP, which were struggling for an early construction of the flyover.

Earlier, the tenders were called on September 25, October 9, October 30, November 14, November 20, November 28, December 5 and December 22 and on January 3 this year.

Fact file

• Officials of the NHAI said they were planning an elevated flyover but the MC authorities had opposed it and the project was scrapped.
• On the other hand, Phagwara MLA Som Parkash and the MC authorities claimed that they had never opposed the elevated flyover.