The ongoing strike against LBT by all traders in and outside the city has hit the completion of the Eastern Freeway, where only final some touch-up work is left.
Since traders across all segments have gone on strike, including the hardware suppliers, contractors and engineers are finding it impossible carry out the work for want of materials like nut-bolts, bearings, washers, etc. The work stalled due to non-availability of these small units affects the installation of crash barriers and other finishing work. Now, contractors have ordered for these items from Gujarat and MP and work is supposed to take off again soon. A supervisor attached with the project said, “This is also one of the reasons why the
first phase of the project is getting delayed. Had we got these nut-bolts, we would have completed this project by now.” Earlier, the MMRDA had announced to open first phase of the project by May 1, 2013.
“Yes, work was stalled for a few days, but we have managed to get the necessary items from other states and the finishing work will gain steam shortly again,” said Dilip Kawathkar, joint project director of MMRDA.
Currently, fixing of view cutters and other safety work is underway and officials suggest that it will be finished by the end of this month. Officials needed almost 80,000 nut-bolts, MS plates, welding rods, washers and other hardware material, but halfway through the work, the traders went on strike and stopped the supply of goods. “Our trucks were loaded with all the hardware material, but traders forcefully unloaded the truck two weeks ago,” said the supervisor.
The first part of the project, which is the 9.29-km elevated flyover, was to be finished in August 2011 with a budget of `550 crore. However, the cost later escalated to `750 crore. “We are through with all the construction, and once the touch-up work is over, the flyover will be thrown open to the public,” said executive engineer J.R. Dhane.