Barapullah Phase-III Construction Faces Delays and Challenges Due to Land Acquisition and Floods
The construction work on the Barapullah Phase-III elevated stretch has hit a roadblock yet again. Despite overcoming previous hurdles, including land acquisition issues, the Public Works Department (PWD) is now facing delays due to incomplete land acquisition and recent floods that have caused difficulties in the construction process.
PWD officials have revealed that out of the required 8.5 acres of land, only 6 acres have been obtained. This shortage of land has hampered the progress of constructing the 690-meter elevated portion. In order to connect the pillars with the mid-section above the river, an additional 2 acres of land is urgently needed. Unfortunately, the delayed land acquisition process could further postpone the project.
A senior PWD official stated, After the recent floods and other ongoing issues, we have commenced work on the floodplains. However, we still require about 2 acres of land to complete the construction of the 690-meter elevated portion. The pending work to connect the pillars and complete the mid-section has been affected due to the inadequate land acquisition. Any further delays in acquiring the land will inevitably prolong the completion date.
The Barapullah Phase-III project has already suffered a delay of five years due to complications with land acquisition and unavailability of required land parcels. Despite obtaining the necessary land in January of this year following the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor, a few private owners have filed court cases, hindering the acquisition process. The South East District revenue department is currently working to resolve these cases and acquire the remaining land parcels in Nangli Razapur Village, where the project aims to pass over the Barapullah drain.
The construction of two large walls and columns on this riverbend to support the bridge is crucial in completing Phase 3 of the project. While 6 acres of land have been secured, an additional 2-2.5 acres are needed to bridge the remaining gap. Unfortunately, the recent floods have exacerbated the challenges as the soil has become swampy. This poses significant difficulties in constructing the supporting pillars due to excess groundwater gushing out during the digging process.
To combat this issue, the construction agency has implemented a drainage system to remove groundwater every 15 minutes. This prevents the flooding of pillar bases. However, the excessive groundwater still poses a challenge, especially when working on the river plain. Failure to drain the water in a timely manner significantly hampers the construction work on the concrete pads.
Officials have informed that circular concrete pads have been constructed, onto which the pillars will be erected to strengthen the flyover ramp. The department has set a revised timeline of one more year to complete the project. However, if the land acquisition process encounters further delays, the project may be prolonged by a few more months.
In conclusion, the construction of Barapullah Phase-III elevated stretch confronts significant hurdles primarily due to incomplete land acquisition and the adverse impact of recent floods. This has caused delays in the project, which had already been setback by several years. The acquisition of the remaining land parcels and the resolution of court cases are essential for smooth progress. Furthermore, the swampy soil and excess groundwater pose additional construction challenges. With a revised timeline in place, the completion of the project hinges upon resolving these issues efficiently and expediently.
