Two mega flyovers

Rajkot, January 1 Rajkot is all set to get a New Year gift-- two mega flyovers, one on 150-feet Ring Road and the second on the Gondal-Mavdi Road under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission.
While tenders for the 16-metre wide flyover on Ring Road will be out next week, the construction will begin in April with a deadline of 12 months. "Tender procedures for survey and design have begun," said Mayor Dhansukh Bhanderi. The proposed flyover is expected to ease traffic woes on the bypass connecting Gondal and Jamnagar highways.

The Gujarat State Urban Development gave the go ahead for the Gondal-Mavdi overbridge on Monday. The proposal will now be forwarded to the Centre and work is likely to begin later this year. Each project is estimated to cost over Rs 25 crore. The Rajkot Municipal Corporation proposed to construct an overbridge on railway crossings —one on Gondal Road and the other on Mavdi Road— keeping in view the fact that these crossings needed to be closed 12 times , leading to traffic congestion.

"Ahmedabad-based Stup Consultant firm has been appointed for this project and a basic design for overbridge has been submitted to the state government, which gave its approval on December 31," said Bhanderi, adding, "It will be 1.3-km long overbridge. The bridge runs from Jasani College to Swaminarayan Gurukul. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 25.73 crore."

The flyover starting from Raiya Road Telephone Exchange will run up to Amin Marg cross-section. It will be open for the traffic of the two highways, Gondal to Jamnagar, whereas the city commuters will follow the path from under the flyover at junction with University Road at Indira Circle and at the junction with Kalawad Road at KKV circle. The RMC officials said it would be a four-lane flyover suitable for all types of vehicle.

The industrial area in south of Rajkot city coupled with the ongoing developmental work in the west has made Gondal (south) and Mavdi (west) roads two of the busiest in the city. With the same Gondal road connecting the city to National Highway 8B, traffic congestion on this road, which has two railway crossings, has become a nightmare for commuters.