Nagpur: Motorists using Inner Ring Road (IRR) have no respite in sight. The project, to widen and concretize it that was supposed to be complete 14 months ago, will take at least two more years.State Public Works Department (PWD) recently floated tenders for Rs165.26 crore Phase-II of widening and concretization works. This will be for 9.5km IRR stretch from Mankapur square to Wadi on Amravati road. Beautification and plantation works will also be executed on road-divider on IRR from Hingna T-point to Mankapur square which is over 41km. PWD official told TOI that the contractor will be given 18 months for completion of works.The tendering process to finalize the contractor and handing over possession of site for execution of works will take at least six months. Thus, minimum two years are required for completion of Phase-II.PWD is facing the problem of lack of additional funds for shifting of utilities. Earlier, PWD had released Rs23.67 crore to MSEDCL and SNDL for shifting power lines, poles and transformers from IRR.PWD official said Rs60 crore more are required for shifting of power infrastructure and drinking water pipelines of NMC. “Union minister Nitin Gadkari had approved Rs400 crore for the project from central road fund (CRF). Works of Phase-I (Rs205 crore) and II (Rs165.26 crore) along with Rs23.67 crore released for shifting of utilities could be managed in approved funds. Now, process to get approval of Rs60 crore is going on and will take time,” he said.PWD sources said additional Rs60 crore will be made available in next fiscal. “Then work to shift utilities will take time,” the sources said.Further delay in works of Phase-II cannot be ruled out if pace of works of Phase-I is considered. Controversial contractor Mumbai-based RPS Infraprojects Pvt Ltd was supposed to complete Phase-I in two years from September 23, 2015. The contractor has till now completed less than 70% works. Extension has been given up to March 31. PWD was supposed to complete the entire project at one time. But PWD delayed the Phase-II works.Thousands of people use the ring road daily. All are facing problems of blocks, diversion of two-way traffic into one way, dumping of construction materials along roads for over three years.

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