Sufferings of vehicle-owners: Construction of roads stopped due to non-cooperation of AMC officials

Aurangabad, Feb 23:

The vehicle-owners in the city complained of facing inconvenience and traffic congestions due to suspension of works to construct roads passing through Katkat Gate, Jaffar Gate, Kile Ark and other parts of the city. The contractors stopped the works as the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had not removed the encroachments existing upon these roads. As a result, the vehicle-owners are pushed to suffer.

As reported earlier, 23 roads of the city are being constructed by Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) from the state government's fund of Rs 152 crore.

It may be noted that the construction of cement concrete road from Kat Kate Gate to Police Mess got started after completing the tender process. However, the works got stopped after the construction of road up till 800 metres. It so happy happened that few property-holders raised an objection over land acquisition at Katkat Gate. As a result, the work got stopped. The AMC's anti-encroachment squad and the town planning officials avoided visiting the site. As a result, the works got halted. Hence the vehicle-owners passing through the road had to face inconvenience.

The same is the situation of the road from Laxman Chawadi to Jaffar Gate. Encroachment exists on both sides of the road, but it is yet to be widened as per the development plan. AMC officers have no time to complete the measurement of the road and remove the encroachment. The AMC officials had also not removed encroachment extending between Naubat Darwaza and Panchkunwa graveyard. The contractor had constructed the concrete road from the City Chowk to the nullah and left it incomplete. The construction of a bridge is underway. The

vehicle-owners are facing severe inconvenience on this route.

It may be noted that the AMC had also failed to acquire land and widen the road of Hardware Galli near the City Chowk police station up to 15-metres. The road is sanctioned in the development plan. The property-holders had been given compensation many years ago. However, the delay in the widening of the road is causing regular congestion of traffic near Burhani National School.