AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN): Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the first ever fly over in Left ruled Tripura at Agartala Police parade ground. Construction work of the flyover from Agartala Drop gate to Fire service chowmuhni via Battala is expected to be completed by 30 months from now. One of the leading construction company Nagarjuna Constructions 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. CM addressing the gathering in the foundation stone laying ceremony at Agartala police parade ground laying a stress for ‘quality’ work said, “To contain the increasing number of vehicles, populations, offices and others the Left front govt. has taken up an ambitious project of building fly over at the Agartala city.” “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 2.30 Km length flyover would be completed within 30 months from now,” adding Sarkar urged the construction company Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd., Hyderabad to maintain quality work. Sarkar also said, “The women labours especially should not be entrusted to do work during the night hours,”

However later Sarkar urged the locals of Drop gate area and others to vacate the land soon if anyone had acquired illegally. This would help the construction company to work smoothly, said Sarkar.

The flyover, which will start from Drop Gate (Fire Service office) is scheduled to touch Fire Brigade Chowmuhani via Battala. A subway of the fly over will be created upto 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 by at least 40% to 45% and it will make a smooth fast track movement of the vehicles.

The entire structure will be constructed on single-row pillars. As many as 100 pillars will cover the 2.5 km fly over. Once fly over is constructed, vehicles from the Nagerjala bus stand will continue to ply on the same path. It means the vehicles leaving Nagerjala will not be allowed to catch the fly over to avoid traffic congestion, said the officials.

However during the programme on Wednesday at Agartala police parade ground Revenue Minister Badal Chowdhury, Urban Development Minister Manik Dey along with State PWD Engineer in-chief Sunil Bhowmik and AMC Mayor Dr. Prafullajit Sinha remained present. Hundreds of common masses across the capital city on Wednesday witnessed the historical moment of the state on Wednesday.