KANDLAKOI ORR TO OPEN ON APRIL 30

The 1.1-km pending Kandlakoi Interchange of Outer Ring Road (ORR) on National Highway 44 near Medchal will be finally opened for vehicular movement from April 30. Municipal administration and urban development minister K.T. Rama Rao will inaugurate the road on Monday.

With the completion of the stretch, the entire 158-km ORR will be opened for vehicular movement. This will also prevent a 3-km detour route and reduce travel time. The stretch was completed at an estimated cost of `125 crore.

The interchange which was to be completed in 2010 could not be completed due to statusquo order from the Supreme Court, and the work was suspended from 2010 to 2015. Thereafter, based on Supreme Court’s directions, the work was restarted in 2016.

Though the work was to be completed in 2016, it got delayed due to shifting of utilities, delay in permission from National Highways as well as delay from the contractor as he could not mobilise necessary resources and funds on time. Notices were slapped on the consortium contractor.

The option of terminating the contract and re-tendering the balance work was also examined. The issues related to this option were substantial increase in cost in balance work, time required to complete the procurement process etc.

The components of work at Kandlakoi Interchange comprised of three major structures, out of which two are located on the National Highway-44 (Nagpur Highway).