Nearly two decades after it was first proposed, the much-delayed Rani Jhansi grade separator, running for 1.6 km from St. Stephen’s Hospital to Filmistan Cinema, was finally opened to the public on Tuesday.
Inaugurating the project, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said, “I don’t think I’ve come across any other project that’s required so many site visits and review meetings.” Fraught with land acquisition hurdles, shifting of water mains, electrical transformers and high-tension cables, the project missed at least eight deadlines over the years.
Revised alignment
While the work order for the project was awarded in 2008, it was expected to be completed by 2010 before the Commonwealth Games. However, a corporation official said that in 2009 the then Lieutenant-Governor called for a revised alignment after locals petitioned that religious structures not be interfered with.
The construction was initially proposed for ₹70 crore but saw cost escalation over the years especially due to enhanced cost of compensation to private landowners as directed by various court orders, a corporation official said. The L-G in 2014 had sanctioned a revised amount of ₹724 crore for the project.
Speaking at the inauguration, L-G Anil Baijal said the project was especially difficult as it involved the collaboration of various agencies including the Railways, Jal Board, Municipal Corporations and other civic agencies. He said that the work involved several issues related to acquisition of land from private property owners, exchange of land with the Railways and DUSIB, shifting of a local Delhi Development Authority market, Delhi government and municipal schools, markets, Tehbazaris and toilets. Approximately, 27,000 sqm of land was required for execution of the scheme, he said. The project is expected to ease traffic for approximately five lakh commuters, he said.
