With bids are opening on December 22, the construction of a new three-lane railway overbridge (ROB) at the busiest traffic junction of the city i.e. PAP chowk is set to commence next year. The project is expected to complete within six months of the commencement of the construction.
Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that the new flyover worth Rs. 30 Crore would ensure smooth traffic flow at this busy junction where traffic from multiple districts and states converge every day. The Deputy Commissioner said that the tender for this project was floated by the National Highways Authority of India, which is going to open on December 22, 2020.
Thori mentioned that presently there are two two-lanes ROBs at PAP chowk, and this would be the third flyover with a three-lane capacity.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the project besides, fulfilling the long pending demands of the city residents, would facilitate the hundreds of commuters to get direct access to Amritsar road from BSF Chowk. Presently commuters have to travel extra about 1.5 kilometers by first moving towards Rama Mandi Chowk and then to take a u-turn to for the Amritsar road, he added.
The project entails two ramps alongside the new ROB which would ensure hassle-free entry and exit into the Jalandhar city from and towards Amritsar road.
The project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Yashpal Sharma said that the tender for this flyover was already floated and the bids were scheduled to open on December 22, 2020. The work to be completed within six months after commencement, he added. The project director further added that the new ROB project to start early next year.
The deputy commissioner also mentioned that another project to improvise traffic junction at PAP chowk was underway, which would cost around Rs. 7 crores. He said that to ensure smooth flow of inbound and outbound traffic at PAP chowk, and minimize road accidents, a massive roundabout was under construction at the junction. As a part of the beautification project, different types of trees and plants were also planted at the roundabout, which would give this chowk a mesmerizing look.
The deputy commissioner said that a modular rainwater
harvesting system was also developed beneath the roundabout, which as per
highway authorities was the first of its kind in Punjab as it would recharge
all the rainwater of surrounding areas. The DC further mentioned that
construction of a new drainage system, and service lanes was also a part of
this junction improvement plan.