GHMC defaults,yet again

This is the great irony and only the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) can indulge in such a preposterous exercise.

Its much-hyped decision to lay white top road lies in tatters as it is yet to go beyond the paper stage.

The Corporation had decided to lay 134.37 kilometre (including 508 lane kilometre) white top roads at 53 select stretches across its jurisdiction.

However, the civic body officials claim that even though they have finished the project estimates, several files were gathering dust as the proposed two to six lane roads were awaiting approval from decision-making seniors.

The Corporation’s engineering wing has prepared the project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,441.59 (with sewer and utility duct facility) and Rs 627.26 crore (without those facilities).

Arterial roads would have six to four lane white top roads while the interiors would have two and three lane roads, proportionate to the size of the roads where they would be laid.

As things stand, Liberty-Abids via Basheerbagh, Lakdikapool-Mehdipatnam, Durgam Cheruvu-JNTU-H and Tarnaka-Lalapet will boast of six lane roads.

A GHMC official on condition of anonymity said that even though the project estimates were ready, senior officials were not taking forward the project, despite the good intentions behind the move.

He pointed out that as and when the approval comes through, bids would be invited. He lamented that this would take at least three weeks from the time of the approval.

In what comes across as yet another bloomer from GHMC, it was initially estimated to see the light of the day, back in September. Right now, there are no signs of any progress because files have not been moving even at a snail’s pace!

According to insiders, there has been a terrible lack of enthusiasm from the staff, although the project could have come in as a secure alternative for the commuters.

The source feared that the project could possibly cut into the next financial year.