Elevated road project from Udiapole to Court Circle is actually not a feasible project. This has been remarked by experts and agencies involved in the construction of this project.

1.65 kilometres long 4-lane elevated road project from Udiapole to Court Circle attracting a budget of around 130 crore rupees received approval some time back. Buildings and shops falling in the periphery of elevated roads have been marked and notices have been sent to respective businessmen. Completion of this elevated road is estimated to be in 2021 i.e. three years from now.

Now the relevance of this elevated road is in question. This has been mentioned in the detailed project report (DPR) presented by the consultant agencies. As per DPR, on one hand the elevated road is likely to organise traffic situation in the city but on the other hand it is going to create too many problems.

A consultant in DPR has mentioned that construction of the elevated road cannot begin unless there is an alternative traffic plan approved by traffic police. As per IRC (Indian Roads Congress) standards, 50 meters right of way for arterial road and 30 metres right of way for sub-arterial road is needed. The available right of way in this case is only 19.3 metres and 37.5 metres.

The agency in its DPR has clearly stated that this project is economically not beneficial. As per VOC and VOTT analysis, this project is economically not viable. There may be less than 12 percent of benefit through this elevated road.

Technical aspects of this project:

Challenges

4 sharp curves-This road will have 4 sharp curves from Udiapole to Court Circle which are likely to invite more accidents. Udiapole to Surajpole and Shakti Nagar to Delhi Gate there are 2 sharp curves of 90 degree each.

Affects almost 300 people– 90 established lands are falling under the periphery of this elevated road project. Waqf Board building, hotels, showrooms, and medical college land are in this periphery.

Problems

• Buses, trucks and HTVs will not be allowed to use the elevated road.
• Udiapole road is around 90 feet now; out of this 50 feet will be taken in for constructing the fly-over. A service road will be made underneath which will be used by buses and HTVs. The service road will be of 41 feet in this case. Because of this only 20 feet road on each side will be free which is very likely to create traffic jams.
• Speed limit for vehicles has been determined at 40 km/hr whereas as per IRC it should be at least 60 km/hr. Hence speed limit is not as per standard rules.
• There is no provision of footpath on the elevated road. Any pedestrian on this road is sure to face risk while on the road.

Survey by certain consultant companies in the past had declared this project as non-viable. In 2010 a survey said that barely 20 percent of population will benefit from this project. NHAI declared this project as not feasible in 2017 since the completion of this project would be tedious task. IRC standards have been overruled while approving the project. L&T had widely surveyed this project in 2014. As per their reasoning, the use of elevated road would be hardly 50 percent by 2036.

Businessmen are against the project of elevated road from Udiapole to Court Circle. As reported, elevated road will put an end to the heritage look of 200 year old building of Collector’s office. Shramjeevi college gate, Town Hall link road, Jodhpur Mishthan, Ashoka Cinema, and few petrol pumps will suffer under the elevated road. A number of clothing, electrical showrooms, restaurants, shops, banks and other hotels will face a lot of issues because of this project and this is the cause of agitation among the businessmen and other merchants.