The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is hopeful of completing the widening of National Highways (NH) 47 between Chengapalli and Walayar soon, as the contractor is expediting the works.
An NHAI official told The Hindu that the contractor IVRCL plans to resume the bitumen topping work from Friday.
Progress of the project has slowed down during the last few months. Fund shortage was one of the main reasons for the works slowing down.
The contractor has made arrangements for the required funds and works will gain pace now.
The NHAI started the works to six-lane the road from Chengapalli to Neelambur and four-lane it from Madukkarai to Walayar in 2010 at a total outlay of Rs. 850 crore.
The concessionaire was given several extensions and the project was expected to be completed by July this year. Of the total distance of 54 km taken up for widening, significant progress has been made on the stretch between Chengapalli and Neelambur.
The thrust would be on completing the works on this segment.
Works will continue on the stretch from Madukkarai to Walayar as land acquisitions have been completed. The contractor had said that it would take about four months to complete the project on section one (Chengapalli to Neelambur) and seven months to complete the works on section two (Madukkarai to Walayar).
Now that arrangements have been made for the required funds, a final project completion schedule would be prepared.
The project has been taken up on build-operate-transfer mode and toll collection will be on section one, the official said.
