This story is from September 14, 2021

After missing 4 deadlines, Sec 71 underpass set to open by Sept 20

After missing 4 deadlines, Sec 71 underpass set to open by Sept 20
Noida: The Sector 71 underpass, which has missed four deadlines, is likely to be thrown open to traffic by September 20, officials said. The subsequent lockdowns and a clearance from Delhi Metro over a metro pillar around the underpass had delayed the project for long.
Officials said most of the underpass had been laid, except for a 150-metre stretch whose top layering was left.
Although work has been expedited so that the project sticks to its fifth deadline, rain and the subsequent effect on construction is a cause for concern, the officials admitted. The 780-metre, six lane underpass, which will cost an additional Rs 6.7 crore from its earlier budget of Rs 52 crore because of the delay, would ease traffic movement from Wave City Centre metro station towards the Parthala roundabout via Sector 52 and from sectors 72-79 towards Ghaziabad.
“We normally cover 25 metres of a stretch in one day, but it can be increased with more labourers at work. At this rate, we expect the entire stretch to be ready in about 5-6 days. However, rain is a concern. Of late, heavy showers have affected work. Clearing the muck and starting the work takes time. The plan is to inaugurate the underpass between September 15 and 20,” said Mukesh Vaish, a senior manager at the Authority.
The remaining 150-metre stretch already has three layers in place. The fourth and top layer is left to be laid.
“On Sunday too, the underpass was flooded. Water was removed using a pump. We expedited the work on Monday, but it rained again in the afternoon. We are trying our best to complete the work in time,” said Vaish.
The official claimed there would not be any flooding on the stretch once the underpass was ready. A heavy sump well has also been installed at the site to pump out water.
The underpass had been a long pending demand of the residents of nearby sectors, such as 51, 52, 61, 62, the 7x and so on. The residents had been asking for a seamless access to the Parthala roundabout and the 7x sectors without having to take the elevated road.
But it took a long time getting permission from DMRC for the metro pillar, around which the underpass is being built. In July, the commissioner of metro rail safety had given a go ahead to the Noida Authority to start work around the pillar. The Authority had been asked not to use any heavy machines or earthmovers around the metro pillar while finishing work on the remaining stretch.
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