AGARTALA, June 20 (TIWN): Tripura’s first ever flyover construction started with an aim to contain heavy traffic congestion in 117 years old Tripura capital Agartala. The construction work for the flyover is expected to be completed within 30 months from now. Talking to TIWN, PWD Engineer in Chief Sunil Bhowmik said, “We have already started our Rs. 250 crore project work of building flyover here in Tripura, Agartala.” Prior to the full fledged construction work, a preliminary meeting was also held recently at Agartala DM office, with the Traffic SP and other delegations’ presence.Talking to TIWN Bhowmik said, “The construction work has already been started and the agency entrusted to take up the construction work has already started the test piling work at Agartala Battala.”

It has been learnt that after the by-elections, the Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited would take up the full fledged construction work for building the first ever flyover from Dropgate to Firebrigade Chowmuhani via Battala. The soil testing has already been done following the report of which the company has ten up the piling work.

The blue print and the design of the flyover has been made and the agencies were asked o bring all the construction equipments and tools.” The ground survey is completed and the piling would start very soon, Bhowmik said.

Besides, another meeting is expected to be held shortly between the BSNL authorities and the YNGCL officials to discuss the problems, needed to be restored before the construction work will kick a start.

"The project has gone to Hyderabad-based Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited through a national tender. Since they are already engaged in advanced construction work in Agartala like the NIT, we hope the work will be completed in time," Bhowmik said.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar earlier this year laying the foundation stone pitched to complete the construction work of the first ever flyover in Tripura by 30 months. One of the leading construction company Nagarjun is entrusted to take up the construction of Rs. 250 crore sanctioned project work of building fly over which would first of its kind here in the state.

“The state govt. had earlier constituted an expert team to take a stock of the situation of the growing population of the city,” adding Sarkar said that the expert team comprising of the State urban development department, state Public Work Department (PWD), and traffic department after examining the situation had placed a report with the state proposing to build two flyovers in Agartala city with an aim to contain the traffic congestions.

Sarkar said, “Accepting the proposal of the expert team the state govt. has decided to build one fly over in Agartala city, whereas alternate to second flyover which was proposed to be build from North gate to Circuit House govt. has decided to build another metal bridge over Katakhal River at Radhanagar with a cost of Rs. 18 crore.”

The flyover, which would start from Drop Gate (Fire Service office), would touch Fire Brigade Chowmuhani via Battala. A subway of the fly over will be created up to Melarmath. As per the layout of the project, the Banayan tree and the temple at Battala will be remained untouched by the fly over. The first ever 2-lane flyover in the capital city will lower the traffic jam for at least 40% to 45% and it will make a smooth fast track movement of the vehicles.