Bhopal: The construction of a 2.2-km smart road, proposed from Polytechnic Square to Depot Square, is one of the projects under smart city. Bhoomipoojan of the road was preformed with much fanfare in December. BMC had then set a deadline of nine months to complete the construction of the road.
However, the much-awaited project has not even reached even halfway mark and the authorities are also having apprehensions about its timely completion. With the project entering the eighth month, the chances of meeting the deadline are thin. BMC had faced all the hurdles in the process including protests from the residents of Ahata Rustam Khana and Pratap Nagar, where buildings were bulldozed for the project.
Local corporator Shabista Zaki, when contacted said the project was illegal and it was privately owned land. The residents were forced to evacuate the place for the project which was not even in the master plan. “Hence we will challenge it in court,” Zaki said. The authorities, however, deny her claims and say the project is legal and is about to complete.
CEO of smart city Chandramauli Shukla when contacted said there was a deadline of nine months for the project but the work got delayed owing to legal hurdles and other issues. “However, we will expedite the process and ensure the completion of the project in next two to three months. We may not meet the deadline which was nine months but the project will be completed at the earliest,” he assured.
