Fire zone

Ranchi, Oct. 11: Work on the 1,255m diversion in Kujju along NH-33, which will bypass the underground fire zone, has started, with the state road construction department’s national highway wing entrusting Ramgarh-based Classic Engicon Pvt Ltd with the task.

“From today, the company has started layout work. It will take three months to complete the project,” said Rajesh Kumar Gupta, the executive engineer of Ranchi NH division.

The company will soon install hot-mix plants and engage excavators and pay-loaders to execute the scheme on war-footing, added Gupta.

Earlier the company had quoted 14.5 per cent above the estimated cost of the Rs 7.5-crore project. But after negotiation, it agreed to execute the scheme at five per cent above the scheduled rate, said road construction engineer-in-chief Vijay Kumar.

The new alignment will cross through the left of the existing highway and through 2.59 hectares of forest area and the rest through state land.

“We don’t have to wait for forest clearance. The agency will start executing work on acres of government land, given the immense pressure to finish the project,” said Gupta.

Initially, the state will arrange for the funds. “Later, the Union ministry of surface transport and highways and Central Coalfields Limited will be approached for reimbursement,” he said.