Several flyover projects in the city have not progressed beyond the proposal stage because contractors have consistently been quoting rates 20-25 per cent higher than the government estimate.
The Highways Department is planning to ask the Commissionerate of Tenders whether to clear the tenders for the flyovers in Pallavaram on GST Road, Vijayanagar junction in Velachery, the junction of Kaliamman Koil Street and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Kattupakkam and Porur, at an escalated cost.
Usually, an escalation of up to 10 per cent is considered.
This is the sixth time in the last year that tenders have been floated for the flyover in Pallavaram that is planned at the junction of Kundrathur Road and Santhai Road at a cost of Rs. 80.74 crore.
Each time, they were turned down as the rates quoted by the contractor were higher.
“Nearly Rs. 25 lakh has been spent on advertising alone. In the last year, costs of construction materials have escalated and it depends to be seen whether the tender is approved at least this time,” said a source.
This is the second call for the grade separator at the Mount – Poonamallee – Avadi Road junction in Kattupakkam that is to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 7 crore and first call for tenders for other flyovers.
Only around 10 per cent of work has been completed on the Porur flyover, which has been put on hold for quite some time. Residents are hoping that the project would be completed as soon as possible.
“The government has been giving various reasons for the delay in constructing the flyover and though they seem valid, the delay is only inconveniencing motorists,” said M. Ramamurthy, a resident of Virugambakkam.
The Highways Department will seek the Commissionerate of Tenders’ views on clearing tenders for several flyovers at escalated cost
