Hyderabad, June 24: With clearing of the pending dues, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has asked the private contractor M/s Simplex Somdatta Builders (JV) to complete the jinxed 11.5 Km P V Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway by November/ December this year. A few days ago, HMDA paid about Rs 40 crore to the contractor. Since last one year, the project has slowed down because of paucity of funds. The HMDA planned to inaugurate Asia’s longest flyover in March 2008 itself but it got delayed due to various reasons. Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had directed HMDA to complete the Expressway from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital to Aramgarh Junction on NH 7 by March 2008 to coincide with the completion of International Airport at Shamshabad. Speaking to Expresso, HMDA officials said that nearly 80 per cent of works have been completed and remaining would be completed in next four to five months. The HMDA had cleared the bills up to March this year. For April and May, the contractor is yet to submit the bills. Of the 328 footings, all of
them have been completed, of the 328 piers, 316 have been completed. Of the 291 pre-cast structures, 250 have been finished, 25 cast in situ structures have been completed of the total of 36. In case of casting of segments, 3,400 have been completed. The main super structure of the elevated expressway would be completed by August. Minor works like fencing, laying of BT road, central median, streetlights would be completed in October or by early November this year. The other
important left over work include construction of six up and down ramps at Aramgarh, Upperpally and including four at Laxmi Nagar. These ramps are held up due to the religious structures that have come up on the road side. “We will shift them to the nearby places by taking support of police and the local people. Another ramp work was held up due to Krishna water pipelines coming in the way,” officials said. The Underpass (62 mt) along the inner ring road near Aramgarh Junction and a trumpet interchange (3.90 km) on National Highway-7 for entry and exit from the airport to provide free flow of traffic has already been completed
and thrown open to public. The existing 4-lane inner ring road is being widened to a 6-lane one. It starts from Rethibowli and ends at Aramgarh Junction. The total cost of the project is about Rs 439 crore and an additional Rs 29 crore has been incurred due to extra works and price escalation. The HMDA has already paid Rs 348 crore.
–Agencies–