Tagore Circle underpass work in limbo

Ravindra said the Palike had slapped a notice on the contractor for the delay in completing the work, and had asked him to get the work done within the fresh deadline.

On Wednesday, the committee members conducted an inspection at the work site of the underpass, the necessity of which has been questioned by residents of nearby areas.

The project was to be completed in 10 months. But it has already overshot the deadline by three months.

The cost of the project has also escalated from Rs 19 crore to Rs 27 crore. Ravindra told reporters that the major hurdle for the completion of the project is the difficulty in acquiring private land for constructing service roads and footpaths.

‘No demolitions’

He made it clear that no building would be demolished, but only the setback of the buildings would be acquired to construct service roads of the underpass.

The committee chairman said the Palike wanted to increase the width of the service roads from the existing 3.5 metres to 5.5 metres. Similarly, the width of the footpath would be increased from 1.5 metres to 2.5 metres.

Property losers would be given compensation in the form of Transferable Developmental Rights, said Ravindra.