Siliguri, July 6: A host of problems has grounded a state government-funded project, to widen a stretch of Sevoke Road, for two years.

Once completed, the Rs 6-crore project entrusted to the public works department promises to ease the movement of traffic along a 2.4-km stretch and help distribute the vehicular load by the construction of four parallel lanes.

The problems that have stalled construction are:

-Some 130 trees lining the Sevoke Road on both sides will have to be felled once the process of widening the road begins

-Encroachment along the 2.4 km stretch also needs to removed before the construction begins

-Electric poles and telephone lines have to be shifted to make way for the extended road stretch

The public works department, however, is hopeful that construction will begin soon. “With regard to the felling of the trees, we have already taken up the matter with the forest department. Adequate replantation techniques will be adopted to make up for the loss,” said Benoy Majumdar, PWD assistant engineer in Siliguri.

“We have had discussions with the power board and BSNL authorities about the shifting of electricity and telephone poles. The authorities have agreed to cooperate with us.”

The project plan, which is the result of the joint effort of the PWD and the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority, states that care will be taken to improve the quality of the road.

“We will use a semi-dense bituminous concrete to improve surface conditions. Special care will also be taken to improve the sub-surface,” a senior PWD engineer said.