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Peddar Road flyover to snake up to Girgaum Chowpatty

December 9, 2013

Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent

Discarding Mumbai Transformation Support Unit’s (MTSU) plan for a shorter version of Peddar Road flyover covering only Cadbury Junction, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will go ahead with the Haji Ali-Girgaum Chowpatty version.

A senior MSRDC official said there was once a plan to erect a shorter flyover covering only Haji Ali and Cadbury junction. “But now we will go ahead with our original plan,” said the official.

As per the original plan, the length of the flyover was at 4.2km. It was to start near Haji Ali junction and end at Chowpatty (near Wilson College) to ease traffic between South Mumbai and suburbs.

In the shorter version, apart from bridging the northern end of this arterial road, there was work of traffic engineering. The idea was to have one-way roads on Babulnath–Sukhsagar-Girgaum Chowpatty route.

The Prempuri Ashram junction-Sukhsagar-Chowpatty route too was proposed to be one-way and a one-way has also been proposed on Chowpatty-Prempuri Ashram and Chowpatty- Reliance Jewels showroom.

Securing an NOC  from the traffic cops will be a tough task over apprehension that during construction, it will lead to traffic chaos. So, alternative routes need to be identified.

The construction duration will be 18-24 months once the tender is awarded. At the moment, MSRDC has bids from private bidders.

The controversial project was conceived during the Shiv Sena-BJP rule between 1995 and 1999 when the then PWD minister Nitin Gadkari had come out with a ‘50 flyovers’ plan for Mumbai.

Since then it has faced stiff opposition from celebrity residents like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle among other locals, making it one of the most delayed projects.

 

Source-http://www.dnaindia.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Flyovers, Road 

Road widening irks Bandra residents

December 9, 2013

Linah Baliga, TNN

 

MUMBAI: The compound walls of eleven private plots on St Martin’s Road in Bandra (W) will be demolished and utilized as setback land for road widening. Residents are upset with the demolition notice recently issued by the BMC road department. On Saturday, the BMC arrived with a team to make markings inside the compunds of the buildings, which are near Globus mall and the H-West ward office.

A public meeting and two letters from the affected residents bore no results. There is a heritage cottage called the Arc among the 11 structures that will be affected. Eight coconut trees, a jamun tree, a love apple tree, a jackfruit tree, three custard apple trees and a gooseberry tree will be lost to the widening.

 ”We learnt from the ward office that demolition will be on Monday,” Floyd Almeida, a resident of Fabian building on ST Martin’s Road, said. “Globus has a car park which is being used as a godwon and is locked up. They have a basement parking and a sanction for a theatre. Their visitors park on our road. Patrons of Royal China and Metro Palace restraunts also park in our lane. That’s the reason it makes our roads narrow. We kept telling the BMC to have parking on one side of the road or on alternate days, but to no avail. The road was one way earlier.”

In the past, the BMC handed over the setback land for road widening to hawkers on Hill Road.

Dilshad Patel, another resident, said that they would fight tooth and nail with the BMC to protect their properties and that the BMC offer of additional FSI did not interest them.

Additional municipal commissioner S V R Srinivas said the widening decision was taken on the recommendation of the traffic and coordination department and could not be reversed.

Widening is the only solution. There is no guarantee if the road space will increase, if we allow cars to park on one side and we cannot police that road forever.

No structure will be affected and the trees will be transplanted,” Srinivas said. “The demolition will happen in a few days.”

Source-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Road 

Four Aurangabad roads to be ‘white-topped’

December 7, 2013

TNN |

 

AURANGABAD: The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) today declared that it would reconstruct four main roads in the city with the help of ‘white topping’ technology. Mayor Kala Oza said that work on roads between – Kranti Chowk and Paithan Gate; Gade Chowk and SCC Board; Lemon Tree hotel and Jalgaon Road; and the road between SBI on Jalgaon Road and Central Naka would soon begin. “We have already called tenders for the job and it will be opened in two to three days,” she said.Oza also said that the civic body would announce names of three more roads to be built with this new technology. In addition to this, under the first phase, the civic body will begin repairing of seven roads using conventional (black topping) technology. Names of these roads are yet to be finalised.

The cash-strapped AMC had recently said that it would spend Rs 30 crore on road repairing in two phases. Oza said that the second phase will begin within the next two months.

Executive engineer in the civic body, Silkander Ali, said, “White topping technology is quite common in cities like Mumbai and Pune and roads built with this technology do not develop potholes for more than 15 years after construction.”

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Municipal Corporation, Road 

Come clear on Jab-Nagpur road, HC to NHAI, state

December 7, 2013

Manjari Mishra,TNN |

JABALPUR: A division bench of MP high court (MPHC) has issued notices to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the state government seeking explanation over the sorry state of NH 7. The petitioner, Citizen ConsumerForum, said journey between Jabalpur and Nagpur is proving a nightmare for commuters due to patch of almost nonexistent highway. Poor connectivity is proving highly risky for patients to Nagpur, the major health destination in the region.

The petitioner pointed out the highway between Jabalpur and Nagpur, known as a lifeline for many, everyday registers a good traffic of seriously ailing referred to Nagpur for better medical facilities. However, the poor road condition is causing a great deal of inconvenience in this segment. It takes nearly 10 hours to cover 275-km distance against five hours it took about a year ago, the petitioner claimed.

Due to delay and discomfort, the petitioner claimed commuters are now being forced to go via Chhindwara and Narsighpur. A particular patch – Khawasa border – between Jabalpur and Lakkhanadon is particularly bad with rubble and potholes, passing for a road, and journey over it is a big torture, the petitioner pointed out. “One has to take a diversion and go via Narsinghpur to avoid the patch has to log an extra 70 km. A big number of commuters going to Nagpur are in urgent need of medical attention. And the delay at times cost them lives.” the petitioner observed.

The petition highlighted callous attitude of the NHAI authorities and how they preferred to look the other way despite mounting complaints on this front.

The bench, presided over by Chief Justice A M Khanvilkar and Justice KK Lahoti, also ordered all eight PILs which deal with complaints of similar nature and are pending before different benches would henceforth be clubbed together to be heard by a designated bench. Next hearing in the case, the court directed, would take place on December 9.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under NHAI, Road 

Contractor casualty in flyover cost row

December 6, 2013

 

A STAFF REPORTER

The state government has decided to cancel its contract with the private company building Calcutta’s longest flyover after one missed deadline and a cost-escalation claim that at least two agencies have independently endorsed.

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which was to complete the 8.14km Parama-Park Circus flyover this month, had submitted a cost-escalation estimate of Rs 230 crore more than a year ago. The project has progressed little since.

Sources said the finance department rejected the company’s demand for additional funds 10 days ago after a detailed review of the project.

“The contract will be scrapped and fresh bids invited soon,” urban development minister Firhad Hakim told Metro on Thursday.

Sources in the government said HCC was yet to be officially informed of the decision, a step the company might respond to with a claim for compensation from the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority.

Officials at HCC, which built Mumbai’s spectacular Bandra-Worli Sea Link, declined to comment on the development.

The company’s cost-escalation estimate was based on delays allegedly caused by the state’s failure to give timely possession of stretches of the flyover route from Parama, on the EM Bypass, to Park Circus.

In the first stage of the project, officially said to be “63 per cent complete”, there was a delay in getting police permission to start construction on some stretches. Shifting underground utilities of various agencies was also a hassle, sources said.

Work on the flyover that was originally scheduled to be completed in August 2012 now looks unlikely to start until at least the middle of next year.

“Before inviting fresh bids for the contract, a settlement has to be reached with HCC. The project would surely be delayed further if the company seeks compensation from the CMDA,” an official said.

A bigger challenge would be to find a firm that would quote an amount less than what HCC had sought. “The cost of materials has increased by much in the period when the decision on HCC’s demand for more funds was pending,” the official said.

The urban development department had selected HCC from among six bidders in 2009. Work on the project, a part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, started in 2010 with a budget of Rs 318 crore.

CMDA, the implementing agency, had sanctioned Rs 170 crore by way of cost escalation in January after initially refusing to entertain any claim. But the finance department overrode the approval.

“Cost escalation had been calculated on the basis of work left and the price of materials at that point of time,” a CMDA official said.

In January, the state government appointed a committee headed by the then principal secretary of the PWD for a final evaluation. The committee recommended a survey by an independent consultant and Rites was hired for the task in August. The report by Rites, submitted before Durga Puja, recommended a cost-escalation payout of Rs 260 crore.

“Ten days back, the finance department decided that it was not viable to increase the project cost to that level,” the official said.

Metro had highlighted in October how a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office prompted the Union urban development ministry to seek an explanation from the Bengal government for allowing a 70 per cent increase in the cost of building the flyover.

Larsen & Toubro, which is building a 600-metre stretch of the flyover above Bridge No 4 in Park Circus, has also faced problems. The railways has agreed to cooperate but has yet to give permission for construction over the rail tracks.

Several other infrastructure projects in the city are stuck for various reasons.

CHOKER RALLIES

Three rallies and the President’s visit will disrupt traffic at the city centre on Friday. Metro prepares a traffic guide for the commuter.

Which events might affect traffic on Friday?

A Trinamul rally at the Red Road-Mayo Road crossing from 1pm. A Left Front rally at Shahid Minar from 5pm. Indian SC-ST Council will pay tribute to Ambedkar at his statue off Red Road at 10am. Cops expect the Trinamul and Left rallies to have a “turnout of about a lakh each”. The President’s convoy will leave RCTC around 1pm for the Assembly and travel
down Red Road.

Which roads will be the worst hit?

CR Avenue, SN Banerjee Road, Strand Road, Queensway, Red Road and JL Nehru Road.

Will traffic be restricted?

Vehicular movement may be restricted on Mayo Road, Red Road, Dufferin Road and JL Nehru Road.

How long will the disruptions last?

Traffic will be worst hit from 11am till the dispersal of LF supporters after 6pm.

Will traffic be diverted?

Mayo Road-bound vehicles may be diverted through Queensway, Kidderpore Road,
Dufferin Road and Outram Road.

 

Source-http://www.telegraphindia.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Flyovers, Road 

85-ft road widening work likely to gain momentum

December 6, 2013

Place: Indore | Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent

  The road widening work of 85-feet wide road from Marimata Square to Banganga Railway Over Bridge is expected to gain momentum after counting of votes on December 8.

The drive had lost its steam due to assembly polls and pressure from all quarters mounting on officials to keep off the encroachers. As many as 307 structures including 16 temples were identified by the civic body as posing hurdles in construction of the road.According to a survey report prepared by the officials concerned carrying out the development, there were 150 structures including 9 temples on left side while as many as 157 structures including 7 temples are posing hurdles in the construction of right hand side part of the road leading from Marimata Square to Banganga ROB.

Apart from the statue of Lord Parashuram, 16 temples are reportedly coming in the way of the 85-feet road. Of these 16 temples, seven are said to be important.

The officials and the public representatives reportedly agreed that all the idols of the temples coming in the way would be put in a single premises and it was also agreed that they would be shifted only if it becomes necessary. However, the process took an around two months long pause due to the election.

“IMC has written to the district administration officer for proper relocation of the temples to carry out the construction. Besides, notices have also been served to those who have not removed the encroaching structures. The work is expected to speed up after December 8,” said an IMC officer wishing anonymity.

The construction on right side of the road has already been completed and once traffic will be started on this route, entry of vehicles will be banned on left side to carry out the construction work.

 

Source-http://www.dnaindia.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Road 

Citizens’ group opposes construction of flyover

December 5, 2013

TNN

 

AURANGABAD: Activists of the Mundha Naka Uddanpul Virodhi Nagri Kruti Samiti on Wednesday staged demonstrations against the proposed construction of a flyover at the Mundha naka on Jalna road by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC).

A bandh was also observed by shops in the area till noon, as directed by the activists. Samiti president - Jitendra Motwani said that a proposal for the flyover was made considering the traffic conditions in 2005-06. However, in lieu of the present situation, activists demanded that the flyover, which is being planned from Amarpreet chowk to Akashwani square in the Mundha naka area, be reconsidered.”The major traffic flow from the main market area towards the Satara and Beed bypass area flows from this road and will eventually increase,” Motwani said.Activists also demanded that a fresh survey be conducted. Motwani said that businesses would also suffer by the traffic diversion leading to inaccessibility of retail outlets and gradually affect employment in the area.

The Samiti members suggested that the underpass should be constructed as an alternative route. “The map drawn does not look feasible for the Rs 17 crore project,” Motwani said.

Aurangabad: Activists of Mundha Naka Uddanpul Virodhi Nagri Kruti Samiti on Wednesday staged protests against the proposed construction of flyover at Mundha naka on Jalna road by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited.

The activists also observed a bandh for the shops in the area till noon.
Jitendra Motwani president of the Samiti said that a proposal for the flyover was made considering the traffic conditions in 2005-06. However, considering the present situation the activists demanded that the flyover be considered from Amarpreet chowk to Akashwani square, which lie prior and later to the Mundha naka.
“The major traffic flow from main market area towards satara and Beed by pass area flows from this road and would increase eventually, “Motwani said.

The activists further demanded that a fresh survey be conducted in this regard. Motwani said that the business would also be affected due to diversion of traffic leading to inaccessibility of retail outlet, gradually affecting employment also.

The members also suggested an underpass to be constructed as an alternative way. “The map drawn also points many technical aspects which do not look feasible for the Rs 17 crore project, “Motwani said.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Complain, Road 

Noise barrier for Pedder Road flyover

December 5, 2013

TNN |

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation ( MSRDC) has been asked to take steps to curb noise, control air pollution and streamline traffic before work begins on the Pedder Road flyover. The suggestions were given by the expert appraisal committee (EAC) for projects related to infrastructure development, CRZ, at its 128 meeting on November 29. While recommending granting of Environmental clearance, the EAC stipulated conditions that will have to be fulfilled during the project work.The 4.2 km long Pedder Road Flyover is starting from North side of Haji Ali junction on Lala Lajpatrai Road and ends at Wilson Collegeon Girgaum Chowpatty.The present proposal is for adding additional four lanes on the existing corridor of Pedder Road. This will provide additional and faster vehicle movement for the southern and northern axis traffic.

This will facilitate easy movement of traffic below and over the flyover and which will reduce air and noise pollution in the corridor.

The EAC has stipulated that should install Noise Barrier System during construction and post construction phase on the alignment of the project. Also, thick vegetation cover should be wherever required for attenuation of noise.

It also asked that stationary construction equipment will be placed away from the habitation and asphalt and hot mix plants shall not be installed at site.

It said, “Noise generating construction activities like drilling, compacting etc. should be carried out only during day time in residential areas.

Besides construction contract specifications should specify use of less noise generating equipments

As regards air pollution, the EAC said, “Fugitive dust entertainment will be controlled by sprinkling water and eco gadgets like solar-powered city air purifiers shall be mounted on street light poles.”

In order to reduce congestion during the work, the EAC said, “The Project Proponent shall use Composite Structures for the construction of the flyover to tghe maximum possible extant. Construction material as well as excavated material should be disposed off or shifted only during the night time when the traffic will be much less. ”

For Construction of Super Structure Pre-cast Segmental construction technology would be adopted, while for in-situ construction, a movable Scaffold System construction method shall be adopted. Thus the construction of piles and substructure shall use only a small part of the lane for a few days, it pointed.

EAC also stipulated that adequate construction boards, portable traffic signs, Chevron Signs, Road Marker Signs, Central lights & linkers on Barricades, etc will be put-up uniformly across near the construction and barricading all along the effective stretch of the proposed road.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Flyovers, Road, Safety, Tech 

175 kilometer road to be constructed in Ludhiana district

December 5, 2013

Vaivasvat Venkat,TNN |

LUDHIANA: The central government will be constructing 175 kilometres of roads in three rural assembly segments of Dakha, Jagaraon and Gill. The proposal was prepared and submitted to the state government by the local MP and the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari to be forwarded to the government of India.

A spokesman for Tewari disclosed here that the roads will be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in the three constituencies. He said, Tewari has personally pursued the proposal and submitted it to the state government for forwarding it to the government of India.

The entire money is provided by the government of India for the rural connectivity. So far the government of India has already provided Rs 100 crores to the state government for the construction of the rural roads in Ludhiana district.

The work on the project is expected to start soon with Tewari personally pursuing the project with the union rural development ministry. Tewari has assured that he will ensure that the project is approved at the earliest and the work is started on these roads in the current financial year only.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, Road 

India’s PPP dream for roads turns sour

December 5, 2013

Manu Balachandran  |   New Delhi  
 

Govt not to award BOT projects to pvt firms this year

  

      

The road transport & highways ministry, after failing to get an encouraging response from the private sector, has decided to shelve its plan to bid out highway projects on a ‘build, operate and transfer’ (BOT) basis, at least for this financial year. The ministry will now award 5,000 km of road projects under the ‘engineering procurement and construction’ (EPC) model, signalling an end to the country’s ambitious plan to partner with private companies in the roads sector.

The ministry, looking to award 2,800 km of projects, worth Rs 27,000 crore, through the BOT route during the first six months of the financial year, had also planned to conduct roadshows abroad to attract foreign investments in the sector. But, in the wake of a slowdown in the economy and a lack of funding, private companies chose not to bid for these projects.

The government had embarked on a massive public-private partnership (PPP) regime over the past decade and awarded to private companies a number of projects, some of which have now run into financial problems. “We have no plans of awarding BOT projects this year and we hope the environment will be better next financial year. But that does not mean an end to BOT projects. As of now, we are looking to award 5,000 km of road projects through the EPC route,” Road Secretary Vijay Chhibber told Business Standard. He, however, did not give details of the number of projects to be awarded.

According to industry estimates, the government will now have to spend about Rs 40,000 crore to develop roads through EPC. Unlike the BOT model, the government funds the entire project under EPC and a developer undertakes the necessary construction work. BOT requires a private-sector developer to raise and invest money for the construction of roads at its own risk, while the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) acquires land for the project. Given an economic slowdown, the government could not award close to 20 projects during the current financial year under BOT.

“We had set a target of 9,000 km for the year; we need to keep the projects moving. We decided to move on to the EPC route as the BOT projects were struggling. There is also a proposal to embark on roadshows abroad to attract investments; we will tap a number of countries,” another road ministry official said.

A number of road projects, including the Delhi-Gurgaon and Delhi-Jaipur expressways, that were awarded during a privatisation drive, have led to problems between the government and concessionaires, raising serious concerns over the BOT model. In addition, the private companies have also been seeking the government’s intervention to get rescheduled the premium they owe NHAI. Calculated on the basis of future flow of traffic, a premium is the amount a developer pays NHAI as it believes the returns through toll from the project would be higher.

The finance ministry is now awaiting recommendations of a C Rangarajan-headed committee, set up to decide on the quantum of premium to be rescheduled. The government is also considering a proposal to set up by next year a road regulator to address a host of issues faced by private road developers.

Industry experts and officials say the absence of a single-window clearance is one of the main reasons for investors to stay away from the country’s BOT projects. Often, projects take close to five years before work finally starts. This is mainly because of land acquisition hurdles and delays in environmental clearances. This year, the road ministry had to scrap seven projects, worth Rs 3,000 crore, due to land acquisition issues in Kerala and Goa.

Experts also point out that the consultants appointed by NHAI are also to be blamed for a number of BOT projects being affected. According to officials, while the Delhi-Jaipur expressway was being planned, the consultants engaged by NHAI proposed that 80 bypasses be constructed, though the actual need was of 124.

“Consultants should be made answerable to the government. They do not provide a complete picture and the concessionaire struggles because of that. As far as EPC projects are concerned, the government came up with the idea of PPP route since they could not fund all projects. Now, they are going back to the EPC mode and, in the current economic scenario and the fiscal deficit facing the government, we are not sure how they will be able to fund the projects”, said M Murali, director-general, National Highway Builders Federation.

Source-http://www.business-standard.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under PPP, Road 

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