Tuesday, 29 September 2020 | PNS | Dehradun
The underpasses would fuse the North, Central and South campuses of IMA into one integrated unit and ensure uninterrupted traffic on NH-72.
Ending a wait of about 40 years, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the foundation stone for construction of two underpasses at Indian Military Academy (IMA) Dehradun on Monday. Once completed the two underpasses would fuse the North, Central and South campuses of IMA into one integrated unit. The project would also permit uninterrupted flow of traffic on National Highway (NH)-72. At present the Gentlemen Cadets (GC) and staff of IMA have to cross the highway when they move between various training facilities of the prestigious academy. This creates traffic snarls on the NH-72 which become more profound during the events like Passing out Parade (PoP) and its preparation when the traffic on highway is diverted. The underpasses would be constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) within a span of two years at an approximate cost of Rs 44.21 crore.
The foundation laying ceremony was done digitally by the Defence Minister and witnessed by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane and General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) Army Training Command, Lieutenant General Raj Shukla. The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, chief secretary Om Prakash, IMA commandant, lieutenant general Jaiveer Singh Negi and deputy commandant and chief instructor, major general Jagjit Singh Mangat and GOC, Uttarakhand Sub Area, major general R S Thakur laid the foundation stone on behalf of the Defence Minister.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the need for this development was being felt since 1978. He recalled that he had talked about the importance of these underpasses to the Union minister during last year’s passing out parade. Following that, the minister had announced this during the parade and today, the foundation stones for the same were unveiled. The sum of Rs 44.21 crore needed for these constructions has also been approved. Rawat said that the construction of these underpasses will enable IMA and the public to go about their respective activities more conveniently. These will also reduce concerns from the security point of view. “For about 40 years, the demand for connecting the two campuses of the academy via an underpass was being raised. While the busy national highway passing between the two campuses was affecting some activities of the academy on the one hand, on the other hand the people passing through this road also had to face inconvenience,” said the CM.
