The Hindu : Dhaula Kuan flyover hits a rough patch

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003

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Other States - New Delhi

Dhaula Kuan flyover hits a rough patch

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI DEC. 29. The Uttar Pradesh State Bridge Corporation, now building the prestigious Dhaula Kuan flyover, has run out of money. It has petitioned the Delhi Government for release of additional funds to complete the project that is already running behind schedule and giving nightmares to lakhs of motorist passing through the area. A number of other flyover projects have been held up in different stages with the DDA Technical Committee for the past five years.

After the controversial Mayapuri flyover that developed cracks in the carriageway within two months of its being commissioned, it is now the turn of the Dhaula Kuan flyover project. The prestigious project, tipped to ease the burden on the Delhi-Gurgaon road and also on the busy Ring Road, has hit a rough patch once again. After facing endless delays and controversies, the project is again in the news for all the wrong reasons. The lack of funds with the U.P. State Bridge Building Corporation has brought work to a virtual standstill and hardly any activity is taking place here. The Corporation has sent an SOS to the Delhi Government failing which it would not be able to complete the task on time.

It is learnt that the Corporation has sought Rs. 28 crores from the Delhi Government as additional money to complete the project. The PWD Minister, A.K. Walia, is expected to hold a meeting with the Managing Director of the Corporation this week to sort out the matter. Caught in a fix, the Delhi Government is willing to shell out only Rs. 21 crores to rescue the Corporation and the project.

The project has run into controversies since its inception. First, it was the Army authorities who had objected to the alignment of the project but finally agreed after a lot of negotiations. Then the contract for the project generated controversy as it was perceived that the Public Works Department and some other agencies had gone out of the way to accommodate the interests of the UPSBC and allotted the construction work to it despite the unbelievable prices quoted. This reflected on the pace of work as the UPSBC, fighting against the rising costs and overlapping time schedule, hardly had any men or machinery in the initial stages of the project. It was after the intervention by the Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor, and the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, that work picked up speed.

However, the nightmare for lakhs of motorists did not end and they continue to suffer on account of official apathy and lack of professional approach. On the other hand, the Delhi Government has woken after a slumber to the fact that a dozen flyover and underpass projects are pending with the DDA for the past almost five years for technical clearance.

These projects include the prestigious Moolchand and Bhairon Road underpass projects. There is the flyover project on Mukarba Chowk Grand Trunk Road, flyover project on Road No. 51 at the Azadpur intersection, flyover project at Nehru Place near the Bhai Temple, Road-under-bridge at Road. No. 58 Shahdara and the Premwari Bridge in East Delhi along the West Yamuna Canal.

The Public Works Department Minister, A.K. Walia, has now decided to take up the projects in the right earnest and has sought a meeting with DDA officials.

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Dhaula Kuan flyover hits a rough patch