The Hindu 29.05.2013
Tolichowki flyover: GHMC awaits CM nod
The GHMC is waiting for the Chief Minister to lay the
foundation stone for beginning work on the Tolichowki flyover, which is
expected to cost Rs.43.78. This is notwithstanding protests from some
property owners over its distinctive design, which, they fear, will
affect their buildings.
Perhaps, for the first time
the civic body has ensured that the flyover design incorporates a
religious structure located bang in middle of the Tolichowki junction.
Having given up hope of relocating the structure, officials have
proposed a curvature in the middle in both directions so that it need
not be disturbed.
A proposal for constructing the
flyover above the religious place was also considered but was given up
following opposition. Consequently, the 650-metre-long six-lane flyover,
with three lanes on either side, will be split and take a bulge in the
middle for the religious structure before merging again.
However,
officials will have to acquire at least 55 properties, a majority of
them for laying slip roads on either side of the flyover to an extent of
20 ft, according to S.E. (Projects) R. Sridhar. The flyover is expected
to ease traffic movement between Mehdipatnam and Gachibowli.
The
actual cost of the flyover is Rs. 38.78 crore, and Rs. 4 crore more has
been allotted for land acquisition and utilities shifting, with Venkat
Rao Infra Projects bagging the contract. Since the cost of construction
was above Rs. 50 lakh, the project was referred to the government
seeking administrative sanction, and it was accorded in October last
year.
There will be 38 spans, 19 on each side of the
split, and pre-cast pre-stressed girders are to be used for the
construction, which is expected to be completed in 18 months, senior
Municipal officials said. Two other major flyovers have also been
proposed to be taken up at Amberpet between the crossroads and Sri
Ramana theatre costing Rs. 95.07 crore and another between Fatehnagar
and Balanagar junction . The second project is estimated to cost Rs. 90
crore.
For
the first time, GHMC has ensured that the flyover design incorporates a
religious structure located bang in middle of the Tolichowki junction,
and officials have proposed a curvature in the middle in both directions
so that it should not be disturbed.
