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| Giridih town on the bank of Usri river on Monday. Picture by Tausheen Rubbani |
Hazaribagh, Jan. 6: An ambitious ring road in Giridih has run into a rough patch even before work on the proposed project could begin.
Around three months after identifying around 300 acres for the ring road that was expected to decongest thoroughfares in Giridih town, the Jharkhand State Highways Authority, the executing agency, has realised that the Indian Railways is eyeing the same stretch for its own project.
Sources said the road department carried out a survey of villages surrounding Giridih town around three months ago. After the survey, the department identified as many as 30 villages for the proposed 21.6km long and 60m wide ring road.
According to the proposal, the road was supposed to pass through Mohanpur, Budhiadih, Maheshlundi, Mahthadih, Mandardih, Maniklalo, Bodo, Tikodih, Chunjka, Bakshidih, Turukdiha, Vishwasdih, Chilga, Akdonikala, Akdonikhurd, Jogitand, Jaridih, Pachamba, Salaiya, Kalyandih, Pandeydih, Handadih, Chandandih, Handudih, Massipiddi, Dididdih, Harichak, Bhalsunia, Koyridih and Sonbad.
However, the road department recently discovered that the Eastern Railway had changed its earlier route for a 111-km Koderma-Girdih link.
According to the changed plan, the railway tracks will now pass through Handidih, Massipiddi, Mandardih, Andudih, Harichak, Boro, Kalyandih and Pandeydih.
In fact, the Eastern Railway has already started land acquisition in these eight villages.
Sources said the new railway route and the proposed ring road would have overlapped on a stretch of 10km in these eight villages.
Earlier, the rail tracks were supposed to pass through Mohanpur village from Lakhari side, and were not hampering the road project. But due to some abandoned mines on the way, the railways decided to change the route.
Executive engineer (road construction), Giridih, Ambar Akhouri conceded that they would have to take up a fresh survey now to identify land for the project.
“We have already informed the government about the hurdle,” he added.
