LUCKNOW, June 10 -- Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has taken up soil testing for the construction of a nine-kilometre-long elevated road from Polytechnic to Kisan Path. The proposed route is aimed at bringing down the traffic congestion on this stretch, especially during peak hours. "We have started the groundwork. The soil testing will determine the strength and depth of the pillars required for the elevated structure," said an official of a private agency engaged by LDA for the project. The collection of soil samples is likely to take 20 days, and a lab analysis, thereafter, will require an additional 15 days. Once the report is ready, it will be submitted to LDA for final planning before the construction can be taken up. LDA secretary Vivek Srivastava could not be reached for a comment on the development on Monday. On February 28, HT reported on the urgent need for an elevated stretch on the route in view of the rising traffic volume, especially due to an increase in religious tourism to Ayodhya. The report had also flagged chronic congestion during peak hours and listed the causes of unregulated traffic flow, unauthorised U-turns, red light violations, and misuse of service lanes by commercial vehicles from Barabanki. Additionally, broken median dividers, potholes, and poor road markings have made the route accident-prone. With soil testing now in progress, the LDA has taken its first concrete step toward the long-awaited road project, which promises smoother connectivity and decongestion in a critical part of the city. A senior official of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC), requestin0g anonymity, confirmed that there has been no communication with them regarding the elevated road project. They also stated that no LMRC official or team member was present at the recently held meeting on future planning for the project....