Work likely to gain momentum as decks cleared for Gunadala RoB
Delay in execution of the Inner Ring Road (IRR) project is costing Rs.40 crore more to the Vijayawada Guntur Tenali Mangalgiri Urban Development Authority (VGRMUDA). The project, originally, was estimated to cost Rs.80 crore. With the procedural delays, it is now estimated to cost Rs.120 crore.
Original schedule
The UDA has commenced works on prestigious IRR project in 2009 and was scheduled to complete by 2010. The works, however, are progressing at a snail's pace at some stretches of the project for various reasons, including permission from the railways, and encroachments.
The two bridges that have been taken up as part of the IRR are a major hurdle in the completion of the project.
Indecision of the State government has hit the IRR. The UDA is unable to award the work to RITES, a Government of India enterprise, to construct the Road-over-Bridge (RoB) near Gunadala on Howrah railway line as the government has not taken any decision on awarding the work to the RITES. The Railways, in 2011, asked the UDA to make a single payment of Rs.26.76 crore. These procedural wrangles have delayed the project to a great extent.
The railways, a couple of days ago, gave final estimate for the Gundala Road over Bridge (RoB). The railway portion is pegged at Rs. 28 crore. The entire RoB will approximately cost Rs. 56 crore, including railway share. The UDA will pay the amount to the railways in a week, UDA officials say. The progress of work on the IRR is likely to gain momentum with the railways clearing decks for construction of the Gunadala RoB. Another RoB at Ramvarappadu is nearing completion. The Ramavarappadu RoB is being constructed at a cost of Rs.29.32 core.
With railways giving a nod to take up the Gunadala RoB the project is expected complete by December 2012.
Keywords: Vijayawada Inner Ring Road
