Seven years in making, flyover a trouble spot

Cost overruns and missed deadlines, the 2.2-km flyover also had the design changed several times

KOLKATA: The Vivekananda Road flyover has been sailing through troubled waters since its construction began on February 24, 2009.

The problems were far too many for this 2.2-km flyover that was supposed to connect Central Avenue with the old Howrah Bridge via Posta in Burrabazar, one of the most densely populated areas of the city.

The original cost of the project was `164 crore but it rose to at least `236 crore, with an additional `72 crore for cost and time overrun. The deadline for inaugurating the bridge was May 2015, which was missed. Later, a tentative new deadline was fixed sometime in the beginning of 2017-18.

Soon after the construction started in February 2009, the work was stopped as the Hyderabadbased firm IVRCL faced bankruptcy. Before commencing the work IVRCL had received `164 crore for the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. The work restarted after a gap of a year-and-a-half when IVRCL managed to arrange funds through debt restructuring.

There were other problems on the way. A tussle ensued between the state government and IVRCL over the latter’s demand for additional ` 72 crore. Initially, the gov- ernment refused but l settled the matter in 2014.

There were land hurdles pertaining to the construction of the approach road for the flyover. Locals also moved court against the project claiming that the project posed a danger to their buildings. The frequent changes in the designs of the flyover also delayed the projects.