The long-awaited GH Junction flyover project has crossed the tender stage.
The tender awarded to Erode-based RPP Infra Projects Ltd. earlier this month entails construction of the flyover at a project cost of ₹ 38 crore within a year from the time of start.
The original plan was for construction of the flyover in a ‘Plus’ formation at an estimated ₹ 54 crore. Modification of the design to 'T’ formation was warranted to exclude Mettur road since the process of acquisition of 12 metres on either sides will have caused further delay in the start of the project, due to legal tangles, Erode East MLA K.S.Thennarasu said, adding that the plan was to integrate Mettur Road at a later stage.
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As per the modified design, the flyover will connect Perundurai Road, Brough Road and EVN Road. The project for which administrative sanction is expected within a fortnight is set to begin in a month’s time, official sources said.
The modified project design, however, does not completely suit the Comprehensive Mobility Plan for Erode that specifies the need for de-congesting vehicular traffic on Mettur Road where the Central Bus Terminal is located abutting Sathy Road. Both city/mofussil and intercity buses operate from the bus stand, making more than 4,000 services per day. About 90,000 passengers use this bus stand daily, the final draft of the CMP states.
The flyover project is a component of the medium term measure to de-congest vehicular traffic. The major roads are carrying traffic beyond their capacity.
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The average journey speed in the city during peak hours is in the range of about 19 kmph. The analysis of speed and delay data reveal that delays are mainly due to junctions, pedestrian movement, haphazard parking, bus stops, and high traffic.
The flyover project figures among the major measures to increase the average speed to 23 kmph.