The 14 km-long stretch of the old NH-33 from Korea Valley in Kuju to Patel Chowk of Ramgarh town will now be converted into a four-lane supper highway at an estimated cost of 277 crore.
The cost include that of construction of new bridges and replacement of old electricity supply lines, payment of compensation for land and buildings acquired for the highway as Ranchi-Patna old NH-33 passes through the garrison town of Ramgarh.
NHAI opted for a four-lane bypass while converting NH-33 into a four-lane highway, nearly 5km east of Ramgarh town while the old NH-33 continues to be a two-lane road. There are a number of multi-storey commercial buildings along the old stretch, which have to be razed for road expansion.
Now, the state government has began converting the 14km-long road into four-lane highway. After the 277 crore project got technical sanction and a DPR has been prepared and sent for cabinet approval, said a road construction department official.
Executive engineer of the department in Ramgarh Rajiv Ranjan Munda said the 14km stretch would be a four-lane supper highway parallel to the new NH-33 bypass.
Old bridges between Korea Valley in Kuju to Patel Chowk in Ramgarh will be build anew. Old electric poles will too be replaced with new ones and utility to be upgraded in the four-lane highway.
Ex-president of Ramgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vimal Budhia welcomed the move and said it would give the town a respite from the traffic issue.