File picture of expansion work on NH-5 that connects Cuttack with Bhubaneswar

Cuttack, July 5: Orissa High Court had directed the authorities to construct a flyover and vehicular underpasses at three major intersections on NH-5 between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, but the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has stated that the project was not feasible.

The ongoing six-lane work undertaken by the NHAI on the NH-5 had come under judicial scrutiny for alleged non-provisioning of underpasses and crossways at major intersections between the two cities.

The Nagarik Surakhsya Manch, consisting of residents of Gopalpur, Balikuda, Govindpur and Bamphkuda at wards 52, 53 and 54 of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation, had filed a petition, seeking high court’s intervention for the inclusion of underpasses and an overbridge for vehicles and pedestrians in the six-lane work on the NH-5.

Acting on it, the court, on February 17, directed the NHAI to include a flyover at Balikuda and vehicular underpasses at Gopalpur, Pratapnagari, Nuagarh, Telengapenth, Paikanagar and Bamphkuda on the basis of a report submitted by the traffic management committee constituted by it for Cuttack city.

But, letters submitted by the NHAI representative before the commissioner of police (Cuttack-Bhubaneswar)-headed traffic management committee recently indicated that the central facility’s project director had accepted the court order for construction of vehicular underpasses at Gopalpur, Pratapnagari, Nuagarh and Telengapenth. But, an appeal in the high court had been preferred in respect of directions related to Balikuda, Paikanagar and Bamphkuda on grounds of feasibility.

“The direction appears to be not feasible or implementable from the NHAI’s interest,” project director A.K. Ray said in respect of a flyover at Balikuda and vehicular underpasses at Balikuda, Paikanagar and Bamphkuda in his letter to the chief general manager (tech), NHAI.

“As per the court direction, construction of a grade separator (a flyover or an underpass) arrangement is to be considered at Balikuda. But, this is to be finalised after finalisation of proposals of the state government for construction of road overbridge or that of a road underpass by the East Coast Railway across level-crossing at Balikuda Chhak, which is hardly 200 metre away from the NH,” the letter stated.

As for a vehicular underpass at Paikanagar, the project director said: “It would not be desirable considering the topography of the stretch.”

The scope of construction of vehicular underpass at Bamphkuda “cannot be included in the six-lane scheme”.

The traffic management committee in its report had suggested a flyover at Balikuda as “a futuristic plan”.

“Construction of a flyover is the only alternative as construction of an underpass necessitated demolition of private buildings and acquiring of land because of shortage of adequate space on both sides,” the report stated.

Though two underpasses exist at Paikanagar and Pirabazar, the committee felt that both did not serve the purpose as they remained congested, narrow and waterlogged.

“The two underpasses should be left for use by the local cattle and a new vehicular underpass in between the two thickly populated villages should be constructed for the use of general public,” the report suggested.