The signal-free road corridor from Vikaspuri to Waziarbad, one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Delhi, is likely to miss its deadline as the four mini-projects related to the entire stretch, also known as the East-West Corridor, are being executed at a slower-than-expected pace.
While officials in the Public Works Department concede that the projects are running behind schedule, they said work has gathered steam after initial hiccups “due to environmental issues” and they have now set their eyes on “completing maximum work within the deadline”. Officials denied the projects will be stalled in the near future due to lack of funding.
While work on all the four component — Vikaspuri-Meera Bagh elevated corridor; Mangolpuri-Madhuban Chowk elevated corridor; Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk elevated corridor and Mukarba Chowk to Wazirabad signal-free project that involves construction of four flyovers at traffic intersections — is on, they are running way behind schedule. The delay is also likely to increase traffic woes well beyond the stipulated deadline of mid-2015.
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According to PWD officials, around 26-27 per cent work has been completed on the Vikaspuri-Meera Bagh section, while around 18 per cent of construction work has been completed on the Mangolpuri-Madhuban Chowk project. Similarly, only 20 per cent of the work has been completed to date on the Madhuban Chowk to Mukarba Chowk elevated corridor, while 15 per cent of the project has been completed between Mukarba Chowk and Wazirabad. All four projects began in April.
Officials insist that environmental bottlenecks were the main reasons behind delay in the projects.
“Work on the three elevated corridors became victim to environmental issues. Due to certain court decisions we were not allowed to cut trees. Wherever we can carry on without felling trees, we do so. But this has affected the pace of work. Our deadline is May 2015. We are lagging behind, but are trying to catch up and hopeful of the completing maximum work within the deadline,” said a senior PWD official.
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He said the road was being widened to meet traffic requirements. “But that got affected because of restrictions on cutting of trees. Initially, we planned some diversions for traffic, but that was not fruitful because trees were growing haphazardly on the stretch.”
Officials also allayed concerns on availability of funds for the ongoing infrastructure projects in the absence of a popular government. The issue has repeatedly been raised by the Congress, alleging that the projects sanctioned by the previous Sheila Dikshit Government had been stalled as the Aam Aadmi Party Government did not sanction funds for these projects.