Muniyappa’s visit will facilitate completion of rail overbridge at Gota,say AMC officials

Municipal officials said the Minister was greatly impressed with the progress of the project and promised to look into the reasons for delay in completion of the railway portion. AMC officials said the Minister was particularly happy that the AMC was meeting the entire cost of this project,which was not very common in other cities.

The AMC is spending Rs 140 crore on seven bridges at Girdharnagar-Shahibaug,Akhbarnagar-Nirnaynagar,Sola,Omkar,Vatva,and Gota crossings.

Mayor Kanaji Thakore gave a memorandum to the Minister,drawing his attention to major issues like the Railway’s demand of Rs 2 crore for use of railway land near the Sabarmati power house level crossing. Railway land measuring 6,020 sq yard land was leased to AMC for 18 months,till the time the road over bridge (Chimanbhai Patel Bridge) was completed.

AMC says the lease was co-terminus with completion of the bridge,whereas the Railways have kept on raising the demand for recovery of Rs 2 crore as licence fees (due from 1994 till date with interest). The AMC has said it did not use the land for any public purpose. Mayor Thakore urged the Minister to order cancellation of the lease licence fee. “AMC is in no position to pay such a huge amount,” the memorandum said.

AMC officials said the minister promised to look into the matter and do the needful.