Times of India: Nagpur: Monday, October 01,
2018.
Information obtained under the Right to
Information (RTI) Act has revealed that approved designs for the flyover in
front of railway station were not available in Nagpur Municipal Corporation
(NMC) records. A RTI activist, who asked to see the records, alleged NMC’s
Pench Project Cell constructed the flyover without approval of the design from
senior officials and other competent authorities.
The activist had sought a set of
documents related to the flyover under RTI Act from NMC in 2016. Documents
provided by NMC did not include the approved design. The activist then filed an
appeal with state information commissioner (SIC), who held a hearing on
February 28.
The activist received a copy of SIC’s
order on September 15. SIC Dilip Dharurkar had directed NMC to file an
affidavit and provide a copy to the activist, informing that approved designs
were not available on NMC’s records, within 15 days.
The activist told TOI that NMC’s Pench
Project Cell apparently never got the design approved, but is saying that a
copy is not available on its records. “One copy of design is available with the
department. There is no stamp or signature of civic chief, chief engineer or
superintending engineer or VNIT on the design. Even state government approval
for construction of flyover, which is mandatory, is missing,” he said.
The activist said the civic body was
supposed to get the design approved from the government, and technical experts
like VNIT, or state’s public works department. “I think the contractor prepared
the design and constructed the flyover without following procedure,” he said.
An NMC official said Pench Project Cell
got the design approved from VNIT before construction. However, the activist
claims the department took a certificate from VNIT only after construction of
the flyover.
Reacting to VNIT’s technical opinion that
a study should be conducted only after completion of Ramjhula’s second phase,
consulting civil engineer Satish Salpekar said width of Ramjhula was not a
reason for congestion at Jaistambh square. “Basic problem at Jaistambh Square
is the criss crossing of traffic from three directions. Unless traffic crossing
Ramjhula from east to west is controlled at Jaistambh Square, traffic coming
from KP side can’t turn right towards the railway station. Similarly, traffic
coming from flyover lands at Jaistambh Square, from where people take a U-turn
to go to the railway station. Hence, the existing flyover is an hindrance to
traffic at Jaistambh Square. It has also reduced width of railway station to
half, and hence needs to be demolished,” he said.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has come up with a
report alleging that flyover demolition was planned due to complaints of
devotees going to Tekdi Ganesh temple. “One can reach railway station from
Manas Square within a minute due to the flyover. Congestion at Jaistambh Square
is due to huge traffic coming from Ramjhula towards KP and vice versa.
Congestion is more at Manas Square. Only problem is for devotees going to the
temple as devotees coming from Manas Square have to take flyover and then road
in front of railway station to reach the temple. There is a solution to the
problem. Collector should give an approach to the temple from Tekdi Road, and
the problem will be resolved. Also, MP and MSRTC lands should be vacated,” the
party said.
.JPG)
.JPG)
