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Cost escalation has created funding concerns over two key flyover projects in Kolkata.
Both the projects - implemented under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) - have missed the original deadline and were recently granted extension of completion schedule.
The projects include Rs 292 crore, 4.6 km-long proposed flyover Park Circus – Parama Island is expected to ease traffic congestion to the airport as well as the IT hub in Salt Lake from the city centre.
The 2.2-km Vivekananda Road Flyover of Rs 153.60 crore is slated to ease traffic between airport and the northern part of the city as well as Howrah Station.
Though the exact amount of cost escalation is not disclosed, according to Mr Debashis Sen, Principal Secretary, State Urban Development Department, the cash-strapped West Bengal government finds it difficult to arrange the additional funds.
Pleas to the Union government for additional funding to the projects did not yield any result. “Escalation of project costs due to additional land requirement and hurdles related to utility structures shifting is turning out to be major concern for the flyover projects under JNNURM in Kolkata. This coupled with the state's fund crunch may delay the completion of flyover projects in the city,” Mr. Sen, told Business Line .
Projects delay
Executed by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA); Park Circus-Parama flyover was scheduled to be completed by August . It has now got a fresh deadline of June 2013. The contract of the project was awarded to HCC Infrastructure Ltd.
The Vivekananda Road Flyover originally slated to be operational by March 2012 is now rescheduled to August 2013. IVRCL is the project contractor. Sources in the government feel that the funds crisis may delay completion beyond the rescheduled deadline.
> ayan.pramanik@thehindu.co.in
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