While inaugurating the Signature Bridge on November 4, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said that he hoped the bridge, an engineering marvel, would become a tourist attraction. A week later, the bridge has turned into a picnic spot, is littered with garbage and being visited by hundreds of people who are violating traffic rules to click pictures.
There were several people on the bridge on Sunday afternoon, eating, enjoying and taking pictures. Vendors looking to cash in on the frenzy have set up stalls.
“I came here to sell food for the first time today [on Sunday]. Several people who have come to the bridge are buying food from me. I have earned more than I do at usual tourist spots,” said Sunil Kumar, a food vendor.
Revelry on the bridge has turned into a traffic hazard, with motorists driving vehicles on the wrong side of the road, climbing on top of bikes and cars to click selfies, and putting themselves in danger by posing dangerously for photos.
“It is a beautifully constructed bridge, which offers a good view. The effort put in making the bridge is appreciable,” said Nisha Siddiqui, a tourist who came to see what all the fuss was about.
The architectural beauty of the bridge has been marred by piles of garbage as there is no bin to dump waste. Besides, corners of the bridge are already paan-stained. Many have started using the bridge to throw waste directly into the Yamuna.
“The government has done a great job, but people are making the bridge dirty. It is attracting a lot of tourists for sure but it is disorganised,” said Om Prakash Sharma, another visitor.
Commuters who have started using the bridge on a daily basis also visited it over the weekend for picnics. “Traffic snarls have reduced significantly since the bridge was opened,” said Neeraj Kumar, a commuter.
Meanwhile, many said the lack of policing on the bridge will prove to be dangerous as parts of it are still under construction.
