Traffic in South Delhi came to a halt on Monday morning after hundreds of Shahpur Jat residents blocked Ho Chi Minh Marg protesting against the delay in construction of a pedestrian bridge, the foundation of which was laid in 2011.
The pedestrian bridge is supposed to come up on Outer Ring Road, but has been delayed due to objections by residents of Panchsheel Park as the base of the structure will be in front of some of their houses.
The protest was organised by the RWA of Shahpur Jat village and about 200 residents blocked traffic for nearly an hour from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
RWA member Surinder Panwar said work on the Rs.2.85-crore project had been stopped due to pressure from certain “influential residents”.
Already, two columns and a portion of the FOB’s middle has been erected, but work on the Panchsheel side is yet to start.
PWD officials said they started the work, but since residents of Panchsheel Park approached the High Court, it is pending. “We cannot resume work since the Court is yet to decide on the matter,” said a PWD official.
However, raw material needed has been purchased and has been lying in their store.
According RTI applications filed by some residents, around 27 pedestrians died crossing the stretch and many have been injured since 2008.
