Noida: The Greater Noida Authority has issued a show cause notice to a private firm for potential blacklisting for constructing two foot overbridges at locations reportedly different from the one specified in the tender.
While instructions have been issued to demolish any construction that has taken place so far, the roles of Authority officials in this alleged malpractice have also come under scrutiny.
Greater Noida CEO Ravi Kumar NG said a probe has been instituted and a report will be submitted within three days. Additionally, instructions have been issued to stop all construction work at the sites.
Balaji Media Solutions was awarded a contract to construct three footbridges —one near the Ek Murti Rotary and two others on suitable locations between Nirala Estate township and Artha SEZ, and Supertech Eco Village and Yatharth Hospital.
While work on the footbridge near Ek Murti is nearing completion, controversy has erupted over the two others as the contractor allegedly changed the locations without approval and began constructing the overbridges near Artha SEZ and Yatharth Hospital.
Balaji Media proprietor Shivam Adlakha, however, claimed that no work had been initiated at Artha SEZ as the Authority was yet to demarcate the spot as high-tension cables pass through the area. The company also claimed that work on the overbridge near the private hospital started after obtaining approval from the Authority.
“Demarcation of the foot overbridge near Yatharth Super Specialty Hospital was given by work circle 7 in Nov 2023. Later, the site was found to be under the jurisdiction of work circle 3. Subsequently, a joint inspection was undertaken on Feb 5. After we submitted the proposed drawings to the Authority, we were directed to submit detailed drawings, duly certified by IIT-Delhi or Roorkee. We submitted the requisite certificate on Feb 13,” Adlakha said.
Eight foot overbridges will be constructed across the township to ease pedestrian movement. So far, Greater Noida has selected companies to build five of them. The two other overbridges will come up near Kailash Hospital on Surajpur-Kasna Road and Gamma Shopping Complex.
The Authority anticipates earning about Rs 9 lakh every month from these five foot overbridges built on DBFOT (Design, Build, Fund, Operate and Transfer) pattern under a public-private partnership.
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