Signature Bridge delayed, LG slams tourism agency

NEW DELHI: Work on the Signature Bridge at Wazirabad has been delayed further. As per current estimates, the project , which was initially to be completed before the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will be in place only by September 2015.
During a review on Tuesday, Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) faced the ire of lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung over shifting of deadlines.Sources present in the meeting said that the LG has asked for another review after a month and asked DTTDC to pull up the contractor for the project.
The project was announced by Delhi government in 2004, but work on it began only in 2008. The project is now expected to cost over Rs 1,200 crore.
“First the deadline was 2010 and then the date was shifted to September 2013. When questioned by the LG on what led to such a massive delay , DTTDC first said that the environment department had held up the project by not giving permission for tree felling. However, now that this issue has been resolved, DTTDC was forced to reveal that the agency concerned is facing financial problems. Work is almost at a standstill right now and if issues do not get resolved at the earliest, even the 2015 deadline would be impossible to meet,” said sources.
The Signature Bridge to be built across the Yamuna will function as a major link between north and east Delhi. Some part of the work has been done and material for the remaining construction was supposed to come from China. Sources said that a joint venture of Gammon, C Cidade of Brazil and Tensacciai of Italy has been appointed to construct this landmark. Till 2013, around 80% of the foundation had been laid, but since then barely any progress has been made.
“The bridge will replace the existing bridge at Wazirabad . It will be a cable-stayed bridge and link NH-1 near the existing T-point on the western bank with the Marginal Bund Road at Khajuri Khas on the eastern bank of the Yamuna . The bridge will have a bowshaped steel pylon and be twice as high as Qutub Minar ,” said sources.
The bridge will be 600m downstream from the existing Wazirabad barrage. The central pylon will be made of high-grade steel that will be manufactured in China.