Gurgaon: Two weeks after being opened for trials, U-Round Underpass near Ambience Mall at the Delhi-Gurgaon border has not received a permanent electrical connection because of the clear movement between the National Highway Authority (NHAI) and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitan Nigam (DHBVN) more than RS 50-Lakh estimates submitted by the last to illuminate the four pathways.
The amount, Nhai said, almost five times the anticipated amount.
Underpass, which is opened for commuters based on experiments from October 17, is currently illuminated by using a 125 kilovolt-amp (KVA) diesel generator which sets NHAI costs around Rs 30,000 per day.
According to Senior Nhai officials, the DHBVN electricity connection must have a fee between Rs 8 Lakh and Rs 10 Lakh.
“But DHBVN has given us an exorbitant estimate.
They insist that we need to install a new feeder for connection even though there is already one in place, which serves the project implementation unit (PIU) in Gurgaon too,” Nhai officials, who do not want to be named after, said.
NHAI officials added that this problem is currently being discussed, but the solution is not possible before next week.
Previously, NHAI had alleged that DHBVN denied the power connection for underpasses to quoted problems with documents and demanded an approval letter from the highway authority.
Documents, officials said, were finally accepted at the end of October.
Meanwhile, DHBVN claims that NHAI has not approached electricity estimates.
Chief Engineer DHBVN KC Agarwal told Toi, “We have sanctioned the copy to NHAI.
They must establish a line and carry out their own work under the scheme of self-execution.
So, Onus now on them to solve it.
The amount (for power connection) sent by us is around Rs 50 lakh, but it may be lower.
This estimate covers the cost of the department if they (NHAI) carry out work (mentioned above) through us.
If they do it themselves, it can be lower.
Costs also depend on factors Factors such as procurement of materials.
If purchased at a cheaper speed, the cost will drop.
However, we are not aware of a problem with estimates because no one contacts us so far.
“Working on an underpass, built at a cost of Rs 102.94 Crore, has Started in January 2019, with an early 18-month deadline.
However, the completion was postponed for several reasons, including delays in utility shifts, construction prohibitions due to high pollution levels, and Covid-19 pandemic.
The 377 meter-length underpass allows passengers to avoid going to Rajokri in Delhi because they take U-round to reach the Ambience Mall, DLF Cyber City and a side by side.
So far, commuters must travel a four-kilometer addition to taking Rajokri U-turn, which during the Top Traffic hours added almost 45 minutes to their travel time.
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