GHMC, railways trap motorists at crossings
Projects to ease traffic jams have failed to take off years after being announced resulting in motorists being stuck at railway crossings and road junctions.
The GHMC has been lethargic on transport infrastructure projects like bridges over railway crossings at Safilguda, Uttam-nagar, Tukaram Gate and Uppuguda. Proposals to build flyovers at Balanagar Crossroad, Che Number Chowrasta (Amberpet) and Toli Chowki crossroads have remained on paper with GHMC and roads and buildings department fighting over who should build them.
While bridges constructed above or below the railway lines (RoBs and RuBs) are built by the railways after estimated cost is paid by the GHMC, the bridges constructed over crossroads and junctions on roads (flyovers) are built by the civic bodies with its own funds.
“I have been hearing that a bridge will be constructed at Uppuguda railway crossing for the last 10 years. I am stuck in traffic for an hour every evening,” said Kishore Patel, a trader.
Motorists complain of a complete lack of planning. “The Road under Bridges (RuBs) at Alugadda Bavi and Rail Nilayam are being widened and vents being built. But what about the RuBs of Oliphanta and RP Road?” asks S.S. Purnachandra Rao, a bank employee from Mettuguda.
GHMC engineer-in-chief R. Dhan Singh said there were valid reasons for the delay in taking up projects.
“But, there are valid reasons for it. Uppuguda bridge is being delayed because a new bridge is being constructed over Kandikal gate railway crossing which is near Uppuguda gate. Obviously, we cannot close traffic at both gates by taking up the work simultaneously,” he said.
Likewise, Safilguda RoB has been deferred as it was considered a better idea to construct a bridge at Uttamnagar railway crossing instead of Safilguda. The bridge at Tukaram Railway Gate is in the design stage.
The GHMC officials claimed that the railway authorities are in the process of preparing general Alignment Drawing (GAD) of the bridge.
As far as flyovers at Balanagar, Toli Chowki and Che number junction are concerned, the GHMC is sitting pretty after dashing off a latter to their R&B officials that these roads are highways that fall under R&B and as such it should bear the cost of construction and that the GHMC will only acquire the properties and provide right of way.
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