AGARTALA, June 13 (TIWN): Land demarcation and identification survey for double laning of Udaipur-Sabroom segment in the National Highway 44 is complete and acquisition work would be started as soon as work order is placed. Tender was floated for the double laning work some three months back. Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd was awarded the work after opening of tender.

The work order is expected to be issue shortly, a highly placed official of the state Public Works Department (PWD) said today.

The source said that a total project cost of Rs. 197.89 crore was sanctioned for double laning work of Agartala-Udaipur and Udaipur-Sabroom segment of the National Highway 44.

Oriental Structural Engineers Private Limited is reported to be a construction company woith with expertise in construction of rigid and flexible pavements for roads and air fields, including bridges and earthworks.

Union Minister for Surface Transport and National Highways Oscar Fernandez laid foundation stone for double laning of the National Highway 44 in Udaipur-Sabroom segment of South Tripura district in November last year. The segment of 73 Km length is estimated to be developed to double lane with paved shoulder with a fund of Rs. 627 crore. Most parts of the National Highway 44 in the segment is currently 7-8 mt wide while the new project would alleviate it to a standard of 12 mt width.

Tender for double laning of NH 44 in Agartala-Udaipur segment was held recently. Further progress in the project would be started in the second phase soon.

The state PWD authority would be acquiring land area of at least 290 mt width to accommodate paved shoulder and drains etc, the source stated.

Asked about scopes of compensation to be given to all who would be affected by the widening process, a separate source in the Department stated that Rs. 494 crores would be allowed under compensation head.

Engineer-in-Chief of the state PWD Sunil Bhowmik chaired a meeting with officials from the National Highways Authority (NHA), Border Roads Organization (BRO) and officials of the PWD. The meeting discussed issues relating to expansion of the NH 44 in Udaipur-Sabroom segment and allied compensation issues in detail. A notification would be issue shortly about acquisition of the required land for double laning work following which claims and objections would be accepted and heard over a period of 22 days. The PWD would have possession of the land after the process.

National Highway 44 is currently in intermediate status in most areas of the state barring an eighty-three Km patch in Churaibari-Agartala part.