Title - SIDHWAN EXPRESSWAY Another deadline nears, contractor yet to receive ROB details

Ludhiana:
Even as the latest deadline for completion of the Sidhwan Canal Expressway project has been fixed for June, the contractor executing the project is yet to receive drawings of two rail over-bridges (ROB's) to be constructed on this particular project. The contractor claims the department concerned was to reach him through the Public Works Department, which is supervising the project.PWD officials claim around 50 per cent of the drawings of both the ROBs had been received at Ludhiana. These would be handed over to the contractor on Monday to enable him to start work.Interestingly, ramps on both sides of both the ROBs are ready while the part to be constructed on top of the railway tracks is incomplete.The foundation stone of the expressway was laid in 2009. The Rs 328.16-crore project involves the construction of 26.9-km four-lane road with a carriageway on each side from Doraha to Ludhiana-Ferozepur road, providing a bypass for traffic going to Ferozepur. There are a total of nine bridges, comprising five canal bridges, two rail over-bridges (ROBs) and two flyovers. Initially, the state government had set February 2012 as the deadline for the completion of the project. It was later extended to October 2012.

In August last year, the deadline was extended to March 2013. The latest deadline is June.

Speaking to The Tribune, Harinder Singh Dhillon, SDO, PWD, said the department had received 50 per cent of drawings of both the ROBs. “These drawings will be handed over to the contractor on Monday. The remaining drawings will be received in the next few days,” he sadi.

Pardeep Kumar, project manager of the company executing the project, said after receiving the drawings, both the ROBs would be ready in the next five to six months. “The bridge under construction on the Ferozepur Road will be thrown open to vehicular traffic before May 20,” he claimed.