13.8.10

Surat to get an elevated road


A 2.5-km-long elevated road at a height of 14.50 feet will come up in two years’ time in Surat. Standing tall on about 210 pillars of maximum of two metre in width, this proposed road will be constructed on the existing Rajmarg from Surat railway station to Chowk Bazaar via Bhagal. It will ease traffic on this main road. In addition to this, a ramp is planned to extend the road from Chowk Bazaar to Mahatma Gandhi statue to make travelling convenient for people while going to Nanpura and Athwalines. Shashikant Daliya, chairman, Public Works Committee (PWC) of SMC, said, “We are happy because no demolition is required for the construction of the road. Only at Jamal Gali where we have planned to extend the construction by a ramp up to Gandhi statue, if something comes in the way, it will have to be removed.” The proposed road construction estimates were passed by PWC and the tendering process will begin after general board of SMC passes it in two weeks’ time. The road to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 60.92 crore has a grant approval of Rs 50 crore from Swarnim Gujarat fund and SMC will have to complete the work before the end of 2013 to avail these funds. Mahesh Jaymalani, assistant engineer of SMC, said, “The road will have 8.5 metre or 25 feet width. For the travellers going from Chowk to station, there will be a portion of 4.25 metre or 12.5 feet whereas the same will be available for travellers coming from station to Chowk.” At present, the city has a Rajmarg of 60 feet width from Chowk to Moti Talkies and of 80 feet width from Moti Talkies to Railway station.

No comments: