Ambala-Yamunanagar NH-73 four-laning project ‘dumped’

March 12, 2014

Rajesh Moudgil, Hindustan Times Chandigarh,

Here is bad news for the Haryana government as well as for thousands of motorists plying on Ambala-Yamunanagar national highway (NH-73). The private contractor who was given the contract to four-lane the 102-km stretch of the NH-73 has opted out.

Ironically, the company has cited the inordinate delays in getting various clearances from the official agencies, hence request for cancellation of its agreement. Satish Chandra, member, finance, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), ministry of transport and roadways, informed the state government in this context on March 10.

The stretch that connects Ambala, Panchkula, Barwala and Saha with Yamunanagar is currently 7.5-metre wide and its condition is pathetic as there are potholes.

The private contractor (concessionaire) which was awarded the work for the said Rs. 934.39 crore project on March 30, 2012, and which was to be completed by January 2015, recently wrote to NHAI requesting it to terminate the contract.

The contractor held that it was due to the inordinate delay in grant of necessary approval for diversion of forest land to the contractor and there still being uncertainty for obtaining the same, the cancellation of his contract was sought.

The NHAI has now asked the state government to maintain the said stretch on its own besides initiating the process for fresh bids.

The application made by NHAI to the state forest department way back in 2009 was reportedly not processed in time which led to delay in possession of the land to the concessionaire making the concessionaire to make a request to NHAI to opt out of the project.

About 10-km road on the said stretch falls in Khol Hi Raittan wildlife sanctuary influence area in Panchkula district whereas only 700 metre passes through the wildlife sanctuary. The non-timely clearance of 10 km of the said stretch has resulted in the situation leading to the concessionaire opting out.

Source -http://www.hindustantimes.com/