Tribals protest land acquisition ‘attempt’ for Siromtoli flyover

Ranchi: Members of the tribal community blocked traffic at the Siromtoli Chowk on Wednesday, demanding a rollback of the move by the road construction department (RCD) to reportedly acquire land belonging to the Sarna Sthal for the Siromtoli Chowk-Mecon Chowk flyover project. The RCD, which had acquired a 14ft land for the ramp for the flyover last year, is eyeing another 10 ft. "The Sarna Sthal is a sacred place for us. Every year, thousands participate in the processions taken out during Sarhul. Further acquisition of land will led to a space crunch for us," Nisha Oraon, a demonstrator, said. The 2.3 km long project, which consists of an elevated road and a cable-stayed bridge, is scheduled to be open for commuters this March. A sum of Rs 340 crore is being spent for the project. The Ranchi administration pacified the protestors. "We will sit with their representatives and find out a solution to this," ADM (law and order) Rajeshwar Alok said. Traffic woes have returned to the Kantatoli-Bahubazar stretch of the Paramhansa Yogananda Path after the Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation began piling work for the two ramps of the Kantatoli flyover. The ramps will descend at Khadgarha bus stand and Kantatoli Chowk.Ashutosh Kumar Singh, public relations of JUIDCO, said, "The work has started and it will be finished within three months.""The road was broken for two years, all the while the construction was carried out. A fresh blacktop was laid just in haste as the political dispensation was eager to open the flyover before the election. Now, the road have been dug up again and commuters are facing problems," Mohammad Shahid, an e-rickshaw operator who plies on the Kantatoli-Ranchi railway station stretch, said. Ashutosh Kumar Singh, public relations of JUIDCO, said, "Ramps were part of the original flyover project and could not be constructed at one go. The work has started and it will be finished within three months."