SAMBALPUR:Work on the under construction flyover connecting Church Colony with Nelson Mandela Chowk in the city resumed recently. The construction firm Panda Infraproject Limited had stopped work on the flyover project here after a portion of under construction flyover near Bomikhal in Bhubaneswar collapsed on September 10. Panda Infraproject Limited, which was executing the work on the flyover near Bomikhal, is executing the construction work of the flyover here also.
Executive Engineer of PWD, Division I, Sambalpur, Gouranga Charan Sahu said the construction firm has started shuttering work for retaining wall of the abutment of the flyover. This apart, the firm has already submitted a methodology, which includes procedure of work and safety measures to be taken. The methodology will be approved by their higher authorities, he said.
Sahu said he is monitoring the work and all Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Junior Engineers (JEs) under the division are being involved in the project to ensure proper supervision of the work.
The work on the 1,880-metre long flyover here began in March last year. Initially, it was proposed to construct a 1,540-metre long flyover from Church Colony to Head Post Office through Laxmi Talkies Chowk. The estimated cost for construction of the flyover was `62 crore. However, later the design was changed and the length of the flyover was increased to 1,880 metres and the estimated cost for the construction was revised from `62 crore to `81 crore.
Prior to the change in the design, the PWD had set a target to complete the construction of the flyover within 15 months. However, the PWD had reportedly not set a new deadline for completion of the project after change in the design.The flyover will mitigate the traffic problem on the busy Laxmi Talkies Chowk, Golebazar Chowk and will also ease frequent traffic snarl-ups.