CUTTACK: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has committed to make the Taladanda Canal bridge and a portion of Madhupatna flyover motorable within next fortnight.
The commissioning of vital sections on the ever busy National Highway-5 passing through the city will provide a huge relief to the administration and police which are grappling to find ways to cope with the heavy increase in traffic during the ensuing Rath Yatra festival.
With the slow pace of both the projects raising consternation over increasing traffic problems in the city as well as apprehensions of acute crisis during the Rath Yatra, the Traffic Management Committee (TMC) headed by Commissioner Dr RP Sharma had put the NHAI and its executing agency on notice.
A team of TMC members comprising advocate Jaydip Pal, Suryakanta Nanda and ACP (Traffic) PK Dalei made an on-field assessment of the works on Tuesday where officials of NHAI and Simplex, which is executing the works, assured them of making these operational within July 14.
The British-era Taladanda canal bridge was demolished early in 2014 and the whole traffic is routed through one bridge at present which has resulted in extreme congestion through the day. The new bridge has been progressing at a snail’s pace, missing the deadline by miles.
“The foundation and pillars of the canal bridge are ready. The Simplex authorities have assured that the base and road laying would be completed in next 14 days. The road will be opened for vehicles before commencement of Rath Yatra,” ACP Dalei said.
The Madhupatna flyover will, however, take longer but efforts are on to open a section of it to ensure smooth movement of traffic during the rush period. The part of the flyover on the right side from Cuttack towards Bhubaneswar will be completed and allowed for traffic. It will be connected to the new bridge on Kathjodi river, which is already complete and ready for operations.
They have committed to complete the work within a week and after trials, open it up for traffic from July 14, Dalei said.