Ram Van Gaman Path Project Explained: from ayodhya to chitrakoot Lord Shri Ram Ram Van Gaman Path, which is being built to connect the religious and historical places related to the exile of Ram, is in the news these days after the news of road collapse.
It has come to light that cracks and subsidence are visible at many places in about 500 meter stretch of the road under construction in Shringverpur area of Prayagraj. It is claimed that the road has sunk at 118 places in both the lanes and in some parts the road has sunk by about one foot.
At what cost is the Ram Van Gaman Path being built?
The 210 km long Ram Van Gaman Path project is being built at a cost of approximately Rs 4,400 crore. Its objective is to create better connectivity between religious and historical places like Ayodhya, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Shringverpur Dham, Kaushambi and Chitrakoot. The foundation stone of the project was laid in 2022. It was to be completed by December 2024, but the work got delayed and now even before the inauguration of the road, questions are being raised about its quality.
Panic created due to road collapse
The road was seen sunken at many places in the under-construction part of Ram Van Gaman Path near Shringverpur in Prayagraj. Big potholes and cracks were seen in both the lanes in a stretch of about 500 meters.
At some places the width of the cracks is about 1 to 1.5 feet. In some parts the road sank by about one foot. Leaning of the approach road near the bridge to one side has also come to light. It is claimed that when viewed from below the bridge, bulges are visible on the outside of the approach walls. The most worrying thing is that vehicles are continuously passing under the bridge, while questions are being raised about the damaged part of the road above.
According to local people, water accumulated under the road after recent heavy rains. They allege that adequate compaction and rolling of the soil was not done during the construction, due to which the road settled after the rain water went underground.
What is the reason for road subsidence?
Local people have raised questions regarding the quality of the road and drainage system. He says that if the soil under the road was properly pressed and strengthened and there was proper drainage system, then such subsidence would not have happened. He says that with the crack in the middle of the road, one side has completely settled down and a slope like situation has formed below it. He also cited heavy rains and lack of drainage as the reason for this.
Who is making Ram Van Gaman Path?
According to the information related to the construction of Ram Van Gaman Path, the work of different parts of the project has been given to different companies. In the report that has surfaced, the name of PNC Infratech has also been linked to the construction. PNC Infratech is said to be related to Pradeep Jain, brother of BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naveen Jain. It is being said that this company has constructed the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway.
Questions have also been raised regarding the quality of the road in some parts of the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway and complaints of potholes were mentioned there. In that case, NHAI had declared the company a non-performing entity and some officers from the company were removed. However, a separate claim has come to light at the departmental level regarding the contractor responsible for the part of Ram Van Gaman Path where subsidence has just occurred.
What did the PWD officer say?
- Ravindra Pal Singh, Executive Engineer of PWD NH Wing, said that the part where the loss has occurred does not come under PNC's share but is related to S&P's share. He also said that the damaged portion falls around the range of stages being handled by both the companies.
- According to the official, the damage to the road has happened due to heavy rains and currently repair and maintenance work is being done there.
- That is, on one hand, local people are raising questions on the quality of construction, soil compaction and drainage, while departmental officials are currently citing heavy rains as the main reason for road subsidence.
What is Ram Van Gaman Path Project?
Under the Ram Van Gaman Path project, about 210 km long four-lane highway is being prepared from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot. This entire project is estimated to cost around Rs 4,400 crore. Its objective is not just to build roads, but to connect those important places with better road connectivity, which are believed to be related to the exile journey of Lord Shri Ram.
Starting from Ayodhya, this route reaches Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Shringverpur Dham, Kaushambi and then Chitrakoot. After the completion of the project, travel between these places is expected to become easier for devotees and tourists.
The foundation stone was laid in 2022, the work was to be completed by December 2024
The foundation stone of Ram Van Gaman Path was laid in 2022. This project was considered very important from the point of view of religious tourism and regional connectivity. The project was to be completed by December 2024, but the work could not be completed within the stipulated time. After a delay of about one and a half years, this project is now said to be near completion.
For this reason, discussions were going on about its early inauguration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath There were talks about the possibility of its inauguration, but before the inauguration, the debate on the quality of the project has intensified due to the pictures and videos of subsidence and cracks in some parts of the road.
'The road caved in even before the inauguration'
After the road collapse, the matter was not limited to just engineering and construction quality. Political rhetoric has also started regarding this. Journalist Ravi Raj, while showing the situation on the spot, made allegations of alleged corruption in road construction and claimed that there were irregularities in the Rs 4,400 crore project. After this he also alleged that he was being harassed by the police.
According to Ravi Raj, after exposing the road conditions, pressure is being put on him and he was uncomfortable even leaving the house for two days. Later he reached the Samajwadi Party office and sought help from party president Akhilesh Yadav.
Samajwadi Party targeted the government
Samajwadi Party's media cell attacked the BJP government over road subsidence. The party alleged that there is corruption in the project being built in the name of Lord Ram and the sinking of the road even before the inauguration raises questions on the functioning of the government.
However, amidst the allegations of political parties, the biggest question now is what is the real reason for the damage to the road and whether there has been any technical or administrative negligence in the construction or not.
The real question now is investigation
Ram Van Gaman Path is a big road project with religious importance. Therefore, checking the material used in its construction, quality of soil, compaction, drainage, thickness of road and construction standards becomes very important.
If heavy rains are the cause of road subsidence, then it also needs to be seen whether the design and drainage system of the road was adequate according to the local conditions and rainfall. At the same time, if the investigation reveals construction related deficiencies, then it will be necessary to fix responsibility.
At present, repair work is going on in the damaged area. The final picture will be clear only after the technical investigation and reports of the concerned departments come out… but the sinking of the road before the inauguration of this Rs 4,400 crore project has definitely raised serious questions about its quality and monitoring system.