https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/rajaji-jumbo-corridor-was-awarded-thrice-to-same-firm/articleshowprint/67605826.cms

DEHRADUN: The elephant underpass in Rajaji National Park (RNP) that has been hanging for nine years was awarded thrice to the same defaulting firm.

The 36.5-km national highway project was supposed to be completed in two years’ time. Sources told TOI that a Noida-based firm was awarded the project thrice in 2011, 2013 and 2015, but it failed to execute the work citing “fund shortage”.

Finally, in May last year, the project was shelved.

Irked by the failure of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to comply with a Supreme Court directive to construct the elephant corridor even after nine years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on Friday asked NHAI submit Rs 2 crore as ‘performance guarantee’ to the environment ministry within a month.

The six-metre-high and 721-metre-long elephant underpass at Chilla Motichur Corridor, which is a part of the four-laning of Haridwar-Dehradun section of NH-58 and NH-72 that passes through RNP, will ensure that the eastern side of RNP will get connected with western side resulting into free movement of wildlife.

An NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had observed that wildlife, biodiversity and environment of the western side of RNP was in danger due to the red-tape attitude of NHAI.

The letter of agreement between the firm and NHAI was finalised in November 2011 for project completion in 730 days (October 31, 2013). A senior NHAI officer said, “When the firm couldn’t meet the deadline, a ‘cure period notice’ was signed in 2014. Following which, the company was kept under watch in 2014 and progress on the project was monitored. Then again in September 2016, the firm was granted extension but the contract was terminated soon after.”

However, lenders (consortium of banks) of the firm approached the Centre to once again consider their plea of completing the project as it had already completed half the work. They added that due to ‘fund shortage,’ the firm couldn’t complete the entire work.

The NHAI had submitted to NGT, a copy of which is with TOI that the firm “completely failed in their performance and could not adhere to the targets provided”.

At present, the entire project has been divided into two parts and has been given to two firms — Uttar Pradesh Bridge Corporation and Delhi-based Atlas —for completion by January 2020.

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Rajaji jumbo corridor was awarded thrice to same firm

DEHRADUN: The elephant underpass in Rajaji National Park (RNP) that has been hanging for nine years was awarded thrice to the same defaulting firm.

The 36.5-km national highway project was supposed to be completed in two years’ time. Sources told TOI that a Noida-based firm was awarded the project thrice in 2011, 2013 and 2015, but it failed to execute the work citing “fund shortage”.

Finally, in May last year, the project was shelved.

Irked by the failure of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to comply with a Supreme Court directive to construct the elephant corridor even after nine years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had on Friday asked NHAI submit Rs 2 crore as ‘performance guarantee’ to the environment ministry within a month.

The six-metre-high and 721-metre-long elephant underpass at Chilla Motichur Corridor, which is a part of the four-laning of Haridwar-Dehradun section of NH-58 and NH-72 that passes through RNP, will ensure that the eastern side of RNP will get connected with western side resulting into free movement of wildlife.

An NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel had observed that wildlife, biodiversity and environment of the western side of RNP was in danger due to the red-tape attitude of NHAI.

The letter of agreement between the firm and NHAI was finalised in November 2011 for project completion in 730 days (October 31, 2013). A senior NHAI officer said, “When the firm couldn’t meet the deadline, a ‘cure period notice’ was signed in 2014. Following which, the company was kept under watch in 2014 and progress on the project was monitored. Then again in September 2016, the firm was granted extension but the contract was terminated soon after.”

However, lenders (consortium of banks) of the firm approached the Centre to once again consider their plea of completing the project as it had already completed half the work. They added that due to ‘fund shortage,’ the firm couldn’t complete the entire work.

The NHAI had submitted to NGT, a copy of which is with TOI that the firm “completely failed in their performance and could not adhere to the targets provided”.

At present, the entire project has been divided into two parts and has been given to two firms — Uttar Pradesh Bridge Corporation and Delhi-based Atlas —for completion by January 2020.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/rajaji-jumbo-corridor-was-awarded-thrice-to-same-firm/articleshow/67605826.cms

Elephant underpass in Rajaji hanging for 9 yrs NGT orders NHAI to deposit Rs 2 cr

The NHAI may able to complete the construction of elephant underpass on a priority within a year.” The process of signing of agreement is under progress at NHAI headquarters and the work is likely to be started by January 31, 2019. Dehradun: Irked by failure of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to comply with a Supreme Court directive to construct an ' elephant flyover' even after nine years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Friday asked the NHAI to furnish a Rs 2 crore ‘performance guarantee’ to the environment ministry within a month.The Chilla Motichur elephant flyover was proposed to be built inside the Rajaji National Park (RNP) in 2010. On November 20, 2018, the tribunal had sought a detailed report on the construction of the six-metre-high and 721-metre-long elephant underpass at Chilla Motichur Corridor, which is a part of the four-laning of Haridwar-Dehradun section of NH-58 and NH-72 that passes through RNP.An NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that wildlife, biodiversity and environment of the western side of Rajaji National Park was in danger due to the red-tape attitude of NHAI and tigers were facing extinction due to a delay in construction of the flyover at Chilla Motichur corridor of the national highway that passes through the park.Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Litigation (CWEL) filed a case for the protection and conservation of tigers in the park and stated that tigers were getting locally extinct due to the disturbances between eastern and western side of Rajaji National Park.Disposing a petition by CWEL, the NGT said that it is important to note that western side of Rajaji National park has the potential to support a minimum of 30 tigers but attitude of MOEF and NHAI, tigers are getting locally extinct.In its petition, CWEL has alleged that the Supreme Court in 2009 had directed construction of Chilla Motichur corridor but it had not been completed even after a decade due to NHAI's callous attitude resulting in local extinction of tigers in the park.Reacting to the order, CWEL secretary Bhanu Bansal said, “The order will enhance the long-term survival of tigers in Rajaji Tiger Reserve because the corridor will ensure that the eastern side of RNP will get connected with western side resulting into free movement of wildlife.”When contacted, a senior official in the NHAI office in Uttarakhand told TOI, “The said project has been divided into two parts for completion within 12 months.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
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Elephant underpass in Rajaji hanging for 9 yrs NGT orders NHAI to deposit Rs 2 cr

The NHAI may able to complete the construction of elephant underpass on a priority within a year.” The process of signing of agreement is under progress at NHAI headquarters and the work is likely to be started by January 31, 2019. Dehradun: Irked by failure of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to comply with a Supreme Court directive to construct an ' elephant flyover' even after nine years, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Friday asked the NHAI to furnish a Rs 2 crore ‘performance guarantee’ to the environment ministry within a month.The Chilla Motichur elephant flyover was proposed to be built inside the Rajaji National Park (RNP) in 2010. On November 20, 2018, the tribunal had sought a detailed report on the construction of the six-metre-high and 721-metre-long elephant underpass at Chilla Motichur Corridor, which is a part of the four-laning of Haridwar-Dehradun section of NH-58 and NH-72 that passes through RNP.An NGT bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel observed that wildlife, biodiversity and environment of the western side of Rajaji National Park was in danger due to the red-tape attitude of NHAI and tigers were facing extinction due to a delay in construction of the flyover at Chilla Motichur corridor of the national highway that passes through the park.Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Litigation (CWEL) filed a case for the protection and conservation of tigers in the park and stated that tigers were getting locally extinct due to the disturbances between eastern and western side of Rajaji National Park.Disposing a petition by CWEL, the NGT said that it is important to note that western side of Rajaji National park has the potential to support a minimum of 30 tigers but attitude of MOEF and NHAI, tigers are getting locally extinct.In its petition, CWEL has alleged that the Supreme Court in 2009 had directed construction of Chilla Motichur corridor but it had not been completed even after a decade due to NHAI's callous attitude resulting in local extinction of tigers in the park.Reacting to the order, CWEL secretary Bhanu Bansal said, “The order will enhance the long-term survival of tigers in Rajaji Tiger Reserve because the corridor will ensure that the eastern side of RNP will get connected with western side resulting into free movement of wildlife.”When contacted, a senior official in the NHAI office in Uttarakhand told TOI, “The said project has been divided into two parts for completion within 12 months.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
https://www.nyoooz.com/news/dehradun/1305653/elephant-underpass-in-rajaji-hanging-for-9-yrs-ngt-orders-nhai-to-deposit-rs-2-cr/