Withbids are opening on December 22, the construction of a new three-lane railwayoverbridge (ROB) at the busiest traffic junction of the city i.e. PAP chowk isset to commence next year. The project is expected to complete within sixmonths of the commencement of the construction.
Divulgingthe details, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that the new flyoverworth Rs. 30 Crore would ensure smooth traffic flow at this busy junction wheretraffic from multiple districts and states converge every day. The Deputy Commissioner said that the tenderfor this project was floated by the National Highways Authority of India, whichis going to open on December 22, 2020.
Thorimentioned that presently there are two two-lanes ROBs at PAP chowk, and thiswould be the third flyover with a three-lane capacity.
TheDeputy Commissioner said that the project besides, fulfilling the long pendingdemands of the city residents, would facilitate the hundreds of commuters toget direct access to Amritsar road from BSF Chowk. Presently commuters have totravel extra about 1.5 kilometers by first moving towards Rama Mandi Chowk andthen to take a u-turn to for the Amritsar road, he added.
Theproject entails two ramps alongside the new ROB which would ensure hassle-freeentry and exit into the Jalandhar city from and towards Amritsar road.
Theproject director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) YashpalSharma said that the tender for this flyover was already floated and the bidswere scheduled to open on December 22, 2020. The work to be completed withinsix months after commencement, he added. The project director further addedthat the new ROB project to start early next year.
Thedeputy commissioner also mentioned that another project to improvise trafficjunction at PAP chowk was underway, which would cost around Rs. 7 crores. Hesaid that to ensure smooth flow of inbound and outbound traffic at PAP chowk,and minimize road accidents, a massive roundabout was under construction at thejunction. As a part of the beautification project, different types of trees andplants were also planted at the roundabout, which would give this chowk amesmerizing look.
The deputy commissioner said that a modular rainwaterharvesting system was also developed beneath the roundabout, which as perhighway authorities was the first of its kind in Punjab as it would rechargeall the rainwater of surrounding areas. The DC further mentioned thatconstruction of a new drainage system, and service lanes was also a part ofthis junction improvement plan.