Encroachers remain but Sohna Road upgrade begins

GURUGRAM: Work on the 21km Rajiv Chowk to Sohna highway project has started with both the contractors reaching the site with machinery and manpower, confirmed officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Even though there are encroachments on the stretch, NHAI has directed the contractors to start the construction on the land that they have received.

Divided into two phases, NHAI has hired two contractors — Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt Ltd and H G Infrastructure — to carry out the work on two stretches of . While Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt Ltd will be responsible for the stretch starting from Rajiv Chowk till Badshapur (6 km), H G Infrastructure will construct the stretch between Badshapur and Sohna (12.71 km).

“We have started work from March 15. Though we haven’t got the possession of the entire land required for the project, still we have started the work on ground to avoid any delay in completion of the project. We are hopeful to finish the project in 30 months (by 2021),” said Ashok Sharma, project director, NHAI Gurugram.

Signage have been put up right in front of Omaxe Mall in Sector 49 and the digging up work had begun on the service road. “We are conducting soil testing and thereafter we will start the construction activity,” said an official of Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt Ltd.

Talking about the Rajiv Chowk to Badshapur stretch, the contractor said, “We will be making a one-kilometre-long underpass at Subhash Chowk, followed by a 5-kilometre-long flyover which will start from and go till Bhondsi Jail.”

The remaining 12.72-km, from Badshapur to Sohna, would comprise flyovers and underpasses at different crossings. The total cost of the project will be Rs 1,313 crore.

Specifically speaking about phase 2, an H G Infrastructure official said, “The service road on the Sohna road has been cleared for the project. We have conducted soil testing and will now proceed towards our second stage which will involve construction of pillars. At Ghamroj a toll plaza will also be constructed.”

TOI found service road from Sohna till Ghamroj cleared for the project. In fact, sign boards have also been put up at Sohna road and Ghamroj crossing.

“In this project, we will make six-lane service roads on both the sides. At Bhondsi, we’ll make two viaducts (a long bridge-like structure, typically a series of arches, carrying a road across low ground) of 360m each, there will be a flyover at Alipur village and near the university area there will be one viaduct, flyover,” added the official.

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