Indian Express 28.05.2010
Partap Chowk flyover finally gets MC nod, GLADA allots funds for project
Raakhi Jagga Tags : corporation, project Posted: Fri May 28 2010, 01:22 hrs
Ludhiana: The municipal corporation has finally given its nod to the construction of the Partap Chowk flyover, at a cost of Rs 23.45 crore. The proposal was earlier rejected at least three times by the finance and contract committee (FCC), which pleaded shortage of funds. The cost of the project was pegged at Rs 20 crore last year and Rs 17 crore before that.Senior Deputy Mayor Parveen Bansal when contacted said the project had been awaiting approval for the last two years because there were no funds. “Now the government has allocated funds from the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), so the project has been given a go-ahead,” Bansal said.
Former councillor Pran Bhatia, however said, “The Partap Chowk flyover project was proposed in 2002. It was a single project to link Gill Road with Dholewal Bridge via Partap chowk and the cost was estimated at Rs 14 crore.
Now the cost of two projects—Gill Chowk flyover and Partap Chowk flyover—is estimated around Rs 46.45 crore.” Apinder Grewal, former mayor, under whom the project was first proposed also said that the cost had escalated manifold. Grewal, however, did not comment on the feasibility of the project.
“I have not yet seen the drawings of the new project and cannot comment on it. But until the Partap Chowk flyover is not completed, the already inaugurated Gill Chowk flyover is of no use.” The Partap Chowk flyover is expected to be completed by September 2011. Bansal, meanwhile, maintained that the escalation in the cost was only minor.
