GUWAHATI: A massive crack was observed on the road of one of the wings of the Jalukbari flyover system. The wing connecting the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Kshetra to the main flyover has developed cracks on some parts and its sides have also developed depressions.
The flyover is a fairly recent one constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) with funds from the Centre’s National Highways Development Programme. That such a mega project has developed a crack within a few years of its inauguration has raised a lot of eyebrows.
Alok Kumar, Regional Officer at the National Highway Authority of India, speaking to G Plus said, “I have gone to check the site myself and it is not at all a big issue. These are regular potholes that develop on the surface of the road and are not of much concern. Some areas have eroded due to water logging only. And we will be taking care of it.”
Although, how significantly deep and dangerous the crack is could not be gauged without comments from experts, the very fact that cracks or even potholes have developed on a national project in just the initial years of its functioning is an issue of major concern.
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Recently, the National Highway Authority has announced a plan to develop 57 highway stretches across the country near the state capital areas as model roads. This development is aimed to educate the highway engineers as well as the state PWD officers. The model stretches will have all the required safety and aesthetic features like road signs, road markings, road furniture, and safety items, proper junctions and entry/exit apart from having functional drains, pedestrian facilities, street lighting, plantation and landscaping, elegant toll plazas, user facilities, and wayside amenities. CCTV cameras will be installed at strategic locations and there will be no black spots to avoid accidents. There will also be other eco-friendly measures.
As per the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, the said stretches, when developed "will look like a perfect textbook version of the model road".
Amongst the 57 stretches identified for this development is the NH37 - the Guwahati bypass. Earlier Alok Kumar had informed that the whole stretch right from the Jalukbari flyover up to Khanapara will fall under the model road project.
Also, the NHAI had earlier proposed to build four 6-lane flyovers at Lokhra, Garchuk, Basistha Chariali, and Boragoan Chariali. The construction of the flyovers was to start from October 2019 but has not yet been undertaken even after much delay.
Only the detailed project report (DPR) of three of these flyovers to be developed at Basistha Chariali, Lakhra and Gorchuk were developed till March last, as reported.
“Earlier the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) had taken up the project of constructing the flyovers but the same has now been transferred to NHAI. Construction will start from October after the monsoon season ends,” added the regional officer of NHAI.
The NH37 bypass itself was constructed to ease the heavy traffic within the city but has now turned into a major traffic congestion site itself.
