Title - Tardy pace of flyover construction at COD crossing

KANPUR: The rail overbridge (ROB) under construction at COD crossing is not likely to be opened for public this year because only 20% of it bridge has been completed so far.A team of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Public Works Department (highway wing) inspected the ongoing construction on Saturday. The team was of the view that the bridge could not be constructed in the next five months. The experts said that 80% of construction work is still left. The team hoped that the flyover would be ready by the end of 2013.The inspection team noticed that on one side of the railway track, the pillars have been erected but on the other side only digging work had been done. In these trenches, the pillars on which the flyover would rest, will be erected. The railways, which is one of the partners in the construction of the flyover, had completed its 40% work.The flyover is under construction for last four years but still a major portion of it is yet to be constructed. The deadline for its completion is October 2012. This is not for the first time that the deadline had been extended. Several times in the past, deadlines were fixed and extended.Over 100 trains pass through this railway line everyday. For most of the day, the railway crossing remain closed. The commuters had to face a tough time and wait for the gates to open. The closure of the railway crossings causes jam in the area and the worst affected are the schoolchildren and ambulances.

Once the flyover gets constructed, it would facilitate smooth movement of traffic across the railway line.