In addition to traffic and the rise in accidents, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the proposed flyover from Panjarapol to IIM in Ahmedabad was launched in the Gujarat High Court. The PIL has brought up severe concerns regarding the constructor who was placed on a blacklist but was still given the contract.
Senior counsel Mihir Thakor, speaking on behalf of the petitioner, cited an expert report that said that a flyover is not necessary until 2044 due to the road’s steady and progressive decrease in traffic.
According to Thakor’s study, the number of vehicles using this road decreased from over 10,000 in 2012 to 8,582 in 2020 and then to about 6,000 in 2024. Although there is currently a major decrease in the number of vehicles on this road, the authorities have proposed a flyover project based on the probability of future traffic growth.
He maintained that a bridge is necessary if over a million vehicles pass by every day. Additionally, the bridge’s structure will make it impossible for big fire department vehicles to cross.
Additionally, the contractor Ranjit Buildcon, to whom AMC awarded the flyover contract, was the subject of an order from the Lokayukt. Thakor contended that despite the firm’s prior blacklisting, the AMC awarded the contract to a company within the same group.
He noted that nine of the group’s contracts had fallen through, and that the contractor’s carelessness had also resulted in significant accidents, including fatalities. Therefore, it would not be in the public interest to award them the project.
After hearing the petitioner, the court scheduled further hearing in the case for next week.
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