Ambience underpass project hits new roadblock: Delay in approvals

GURUGRAM: Delays in getting required approvals for the traffic movement plan and deploying heavy machinery could delay the completion of NHAI's Ambience Mall underpass project by three-four months. Before the lockdown, NHAI and its contractor had hoped to open the underpass by May.
The project contractor, RK Contractor, has claimed that for the construction of the box portion of the underpass about eight lanes of the main Delhi-Jaipur carriageway have to be cordoned off. As required, slip roads, additional lanes have been constructed, and diversion boards readied to be put up. Approval to implement the plan, however, is still pending, leading to delays for the contractor which is already struggling with labour shortage.
“The request was made in March. But due to Covid-19 everything came to a halt. Now, that work has begun we have been seeking approval on that request,” said a RK Contractor official.
In March when the highways authority had sought permission for the new traffic plan, traffic police had given a go-ahead for two months. However, due to the extended lockdown th-at came into effect from March 25 the work could not be undertaken.
The contractor also needs permission to move heavy vehicles required for the works like excavation. “We have permission for just one vehicle right now, and for the next stage of work, we need 15 to 20 vehicles. We had applied for the permission on April 24 but haven’t received any update. I think with new MHA guidelines that say no e-pass is needed for inter-state or intra-state movement, the issue might get resolved now,” said an official.
Traffic cops, however, claim no approval requests are pending at their end and they have given all the required permissions to start the work right when it had resumed. "Timely completion of the work is in our interest because this will smoothen traffic flow. We had given permission as and when sought by project officials. In fact, all the necessary permissions and approvals were given right when the work was allowed to resume last month," said senior traffic cop.