Fresh row mars overbridge project

Raheel Dhattiwala / TNN / May 24, 2007, 03:53 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

The Shahibaug railway over-bridge being constructed by the AMC to ease traffic congestion is mired in controversy after residents moved the Gujarat High Court against it and the matter is sub judice.

AHMEDABAD: The Shahibaug railway over-bridge being constructed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to ease traffic congestion is mired in controversy after residents moved the Gujarat High Court against it and the matter is sub judice.
On Monday, in a fresh turn of events, a resident filed a complaint at the Madhavpura police station alleging assault from the rival party for opposing the construction.

You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad

A resident of Sadhna Society and petitioner in the HC case Ramesh Kothari said in his complaint that he was attacked by Sagar Rabari, a security guard of contractor Rajkamal Builders. Another resident, Anil Prajapati, who is a also a BJP worker, too claimed assault on his family on Sunday. However, no police complaint was lodged.

The conflict about the bridge began after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation scrapped its earlier plan of constructing an underpass at the Ladla Pir Crossing and redesigned it as an overbridge, citing technical reasons.
The underpass, sanctioned in August 2006, was supposed to have its approach towards the police commissioner’s office, while the overbridge, sanctioned in January 2007, will go towards the Dilli Darwaza-Hajipura Garden end.
The bone of contention for the members of 11 residential societies opposing the overbridge was the claim of political pressure on the civic authorities to change the plan. A resident of Patel Society Malav Patel said that information got under RTI not only pointed to an error on the part of AMC, but also political coercion.
A letter dated September 25, 2006, of the AMC, acquired under RTI, states that the proposal of underpass was reconsidered after "strong opposition" from "local corporators and a member of the legislative Assembly".
Names of minister of state for rural development Bharat Barot - Shahibaug falls in his election constituency, Dariapur-Kazipur— and municipal corporators from BJP, namely Kanaji Thakore and Pravin Patel have cropped up in the controversy. All three, however, denied the allegations.
Barot said, "I was always in favour of the underpass. But when the AMC found it was technically not feasible, I supported their decision. I have never made any demands for an over-bridge."
Municipal commissioner I P Gautam also called the allegations baseless. "The change was made on material facts, not political pressure," he said. It is noteworthy that a large number of residents opposing the overbridge are BJP and RSS supporters.

End of Article