NHAI approves underpasses at two major black spots in city
To decongest heavy flow of vehicular traffic on main arteries in the city, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved the proposal of constructing vehicular underpasses (VUPs) at two major accident-prone black spots in the city.
Acceding to the proposal submitted by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav has given nod to the project costing Rs 44 crore for decongesting the heavy traffic flow on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, connecting Delhi with Jammu via Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar in the city.
The development assumes significance as the GT Road, passing through the main city areas, witnesses heavy flow of vehicular traffic leading to major congestion and frequent mishaps, mostly turning fatal, as well.
Arora told The Tribune on Saturday that the NHAI has approved the VUPs at Kailash Nagar Chowk and the Jassian Road to Guruhar Rai Nagar crossing on the GT Road, for which the short-term tender would be floated on Monday.
“Both these VUPs are proposed to ease the vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians to move/ cross busy junctions/spots from one side to another,” the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member from Punjab in the Upper House of Parliament said, adding that the VUPs would not only ease commuters but would also check road accidents causing due to high speed of traffic on this section of the NH-1.
According to the scope of the work prepared by the NHAI, both VUPs will be built with a span of 15x2 meters and clear height of 5.5 meters at an estimated cost of Rs 21.67 crore each.
“Our local MLAs Daljit Singh Grewal and Madan Lal Bagga had brought the matter to my notice following which I had taken it up with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and the NHAI Chairman during a meeting in New Delhi last September,” Arora recalled.
He had demanded the construction of vehicular and light vehicle underpasses at five major strategic locations, which had been identified as black spots, — Subhash Nagar to Sunder Nagar Chowk, Kailash Nagar Chowk, Kakowal Chowk to Shekhewal, Kali-Bindra Colony to Pringle Ground and Jassian Road to Guruhar Rai Nagar crossing.
“Accepting my proposal, the NHAI Chairman had instructed his staff that these should be taken care of by the Regional Officer (RO) since these are within his powers and should be taken care of immediately as these being accident-prone sites called as black spots,” Arora said.
He said two of the five proposed VUPs had been approved following a proper study.
Besides, Arora had also proposed the construction of an elevated road from Sherpur Chowk to Jalandhar Bypass to address the severe traffic congestion and reduce the high risk of road accidents.
Earlier, the NHAI had approved the construction of a mini-flyover at Kailash Nagar Chowk here.
It was proposed to come up at Kailash Nagar Chowk and planned to cover Shivpuri Chowk to Basti Jodhewal Chowk and further connect New Shakti Nagar/ Subhash Nagar between Basti Chowk and Tajpur Chowk.
The NHAI had agreed to construct a mini flyover measuring 40-foot-wide and 12-foot height at Kailash Nagar Chowk between Shivpuri Chowk to Basti Jodhewal Chowk and further connecting it to New Shakti Nagar/ Subhash Nagar between Basti Chowk and Tajpur Chowk.
“The timely implementation of these infrastructure projects will provide much-needed relief to the residents of Ludhiana,” the parliamentarian said, adding that he had urged the NHAI Chairman to ensure construction of VUPs and LVUPs on a priority basis.
Scope of work
Both VUPs will be built with a span of 15x2 meters and clear height of 5.5 meters at an estimated cost of Rs 21.67 crore each.
