SAMBALPUR: Construction of the two-lane flyover at Laxmi Talkies Chowk here is all set to take off shortly. In a bid to facilitate construction of the flyover, the Public Works Department (PWD) has already moved to the WESCO for relocation of the electric poles and transformers situated along the main road from Church Chowk to Nelson Mandela Chowk, one of the busiest roads of the city.
Superintending Engineer of PWD, Sambalpur, Bhata Bhoi said tender for construction of the flyover is at award stage. The WESCO has been asked to prepare a proposal to relocate the poles and transformers, he added.
Earlier, the PWD had asked the WESCO to prepare a proposal for the purpose. But, the WESCO submitted a proposal of underground cabling from Church Chowk to Nelson Mandela Chowk. The estimate drawn up was around Rs14 crore forcing the PWD to drop the idea of underground cabling as the amount overshot the budget. Subsequently, the PWD asked the WESCO to prepare a fresh proposal regarding relocation of the poles and transformers within the financial provision of Rs3.5 crore earmarked for the work.
The proposed flyover will connect the busy stretch from Dhutrapada Chowk near Odia Baptist Church to Head Post Office Chowk via Laxmi Talkies Chowk and Golebazaar Chowk towards Nelson Mandela Chowk. The PWD had mooted construction of two-lane flyover at Laxmi Talkies Chowk at an estimated cost of Rs59.95 crore with a length of 1,520 metres.
As per a survey, it was found that the road from Church Chowk to Nelson Mandela Chowk was the busiest compared to the road from Jail Chowk to Mudipada Chowk. The vehicular movement on the road was more than 1000 Passenger Car Unit (PCU). Accordingly, the proposal was made to develop a flyover which would avoid the rush on the road and ease traffic.