Latest news with #e-Parivesh
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Odisha government scraps tender for construction of Mahanadi bridge near Satkosia
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government has scrapped the tender floated for construction of a high-level bridge over Mahanadi river near the ecologically-sensitive Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The bridge plan was taken up without obtaining mandatory clearances from the statutory bodies of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). This newspaper had reported the story. An official document of the Works department, accessed by The New Indian Express, said, 'The project proposal will now be uploaded on the e-Parivesh portal for obtaining all necessary statutory clearances after which its execution will be taken up.' Sources in the Works department said, the chief engineer, Bridges cancelled the March 28 tender citing that due procedure will be followed to obtain all statutory clearances required for its execution in the ecologically-sensitive area. The bridge project had been planned to be executed at an investment of `131.51 crore to connect Narsinghpur-Baliput PWD road to Badmul, a scenic site located within Baisipalli wildlife sanctuary under Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Though the bridge and its approach road fall within a few hundred metres of the core area of the tiger reserve, it was alleged that the government proceeded with the tender without obtaining necessary clearances from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Environmentalists and wildlife experts who raised objections had cautioned that the project could cause irreversible damage to the fragile ecosystem of Satkosia. Meanwhile, in view of the sensitive nature of the proposed bridge over Chilika lake, the regional officer, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has intimated the Works department that they would appoint competent agencies to conduct studies and assessments, and comply with the terms of reference recommended by the MoEFCC under the provision of EAI notification 2006. The 7.74-km project, estimated at a cost of around `526.08 crore, had prompted the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of MoEFCC to seek a cost-benefit analysis from the state government. During a meeting in December last year, the EAC observed that around 3.4-km length of the proposed bridge falls under the draft eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) boundary of Nalabana (Chilika) Wildlife Sanctuary. It had sought clarification from NHAI for the necessity of constructing the bridge project at the site. Department sources said the status of the Mahanadi bridge and Chilika bridge projects has been communicated to the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) that sought clarification from the government on both the matters recently.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhi may soon get its 3rd flyover with trees
The public works department (PWD) is preparing to open the Nand Nagari flyover to traffic by August—even as trees remain standing in the middle of its carriageway due to pending forest clearances. The 1.5km stretch, part of Delhi's ₹ 157.85 crore push to make Wazirabad Road signal-free, is nearly 85% complete, officials said. But delays in securing tree-felling permissions have left more than 60 trees rooted along the alignment, raising concerns about potential traffic hazards. Trees in the middle of the road on Nand Nagari flyover. (Vipin Kumar/Hindustan Times) If opened in its current state, the flyover will become the third in Delhi where vehicles are forced to navigate around standing trees. Earlier this year, the Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh flyovers were inaugurated with full-grown trees left under or even between traffic lanes, as the forest department's nod failed to arrive in time. The PWD is now taking a similar approach here—treating the removal of trees as a 'pending work' to be handled post-opening through a supplementary agreement. 'Opening the traffic flow is a priority as it will offer relief from congestion along the stretch,' said a senior PWD official, adding that the agency aims to make the flyover operational around Independence Day. A report dated June 21 said the core structure will be ready by July-end. However, it flagged multiple safety concerns, including sewer lines and manholes obstructing the retaining wall near the Nand Nagari depot, debris on service roads, and missing drain covers—each posing accident risks. 'Debris, silt and malba near the ramp must be removed immediately… Lighting should also be improved for safe traffic movement at night,' the report stated. The project, which began in February 2023, was originally slated for completion by July 2024. In addition to the elevated corridor, it includes road improvements, footpaths, upgraded drainage, and rainwater harvesting. The six-lane flyover starts from the Nand Nagri junction and ends near the Gagan Cinema T-junction, covering a 1,500-metre stretch of National Highway-9. It serves commuters travelling between North Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and connects densely populated colonies such as Dilshad Garden, Gonda, Mustafabad, and Karawal Nagar. Tree-related delays have proved to be a major stumbling block. While 63 trees are listed for felling or transplantation—36 on the e-Parivesh portal and 27 under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA)—approvals are still awaited. On June 4, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena invoked a special exemption under Section 29 of the DPTA to lift area restrictions and allow the application to be reviewed. However, final clearance from the forest department is still pending. Once operational, the corridor is expected to halve the current 30-minute travel time for those commuting to Bhopura via Signature Bridge. A foot overbridge on the stretch will be demolished and replaced with a subway for pedestrian access.
