Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday asked the officials of the Public Works Department to complete all the projects, including those taken up under the Smart City Mission in Lucknow. He directed the officials to adhere to the Covid protocols and maintain the quality of work.
Sanctioning Rs 155.83 crore for completion of 26 projects of broadening, beautification, repair work of state highways and other important roads, Maurya asked the PWD head to ensure that the budget allocation for each project should be released and that the works be completed in time maintaining quality. The works are to be carried out in Shahjahanpur, Jhansi, Basti, Saharanpur, Kannauj, Lalitpur, Gonda, Siddharthnagar, Agra, Bahraich etc.
Maurya also released a sum of Rs 2.97 crore for completion of the railway overbridge (ROB) work on Delhi-Tundla-Kanpur railway track in Firozabad. Maurya, who is also the PWD minister, issued about Rs 25 crore for broadening and beautification of the three state highways passing through Shahjahanpur. He also instructed officials to expedite the work taken up under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.
In the current financial year, works are either underway or completed on 420 roads spread in 32 districts with a budget of Rs 103.63 crore under the Central scheme.
The deputy CM also asked the officials concerned to expedite the works taken up under the Smart City Mission in the state capital. In the first phase in the Qaiserbagh area, roads have been identified to be developed as smart roads. The roads to be beautified include Bansmandi-Latouche Road (Gautambudh Marg), Hussainganj to Latouche Road (Shivaji Marg), Hussainabad Marg, Gautambudh Park to Teele Wali Masjid, Daliganj crossing to Residency crossing (MG Road), Swasthya Bhawan tri-crossing to Qaiserbagh crossing, University Road, Shahmina Marg, Hazratganj main crossing to DM residence (MG Road) and Shahnajaf Road among others.
Meanwhile, the work on the much-awaited Khurram Nagar flyover in Lucknow is expected to start in August. Once ready, the flyover is expected to benefit over 45,000 daily commuters. Stretching over 2.5 kms, the 4-lane flyover will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 180 crore.
While the executive body for administering this project will be selected in June, focused efforts are being deployed to make sure that the construction of the flyover is completed within 18 months. The aim is to reduce vehicular congestion.
Executive Engineer in the National Highway Division of PWD Dharamvir Singh said the process for acquiring tenders has been initiated and it is expected to be completed in June itself. After the executive body is formalised, the construction is expected to start within two months.
