LG visits Rani Jhansi flyover, assures work will be completed by Oct 15

A 1.8-km long flyover known as Rani Jhansi flyover —which is a synonym of red tapism, nepotism and civic apathy in the national capital — was visited by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday.

The LG has stated that the flyover will be completed by October 15, but given this project started 20 years ago and has already missed several deadlines, whether it will actually be complete by that time is still a matter of concern. Due to the prolonged delay, the project cost has escalated from Rs 177 crore to Rs 724.22 crore.

Baijal inspected the flyover, apart from few other ongoing projects, and directed officials to expedite them. He directed all senior officers of different agencies to work in tandem and put their effort in completing the work by the target date.

Thereafter, the LG chaired a meeting of stakeholders to take stock of the progress and inquired about the bottlenecks in the project and later said, "Inspected construction of Grade Separator at Rani Jhansi road with senior officers of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, DJB, Revenue Deptt, Traffic Police and Railways. Issued directions to resolve all pending issues. Officers assured to complete the work by October 15, 2017."

The flyover, which comes under the North Municipal Corporation, has shown no sign of completion after it was first conceived 20 years ago. The project is intended to cover Rani Jhansi Road, Bara Hindu Rao, DCM Chowk, Azad Market and Baraf Khana Chowk to reach St Stephen's Hospital. The idea was mooted in 1998, but construction began only in November 2008. The original deadline for its completion was 2010 before the Commonwealth Games, but that was not met.

"The bridge would comprise a four-lane divided carriageway. The work was held up mainly due to delay in land acquisition, exchange of land with Railways and Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board and subsequent shifting of services pertaining to various agencies including Delhi Jal Board, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited and Bombay Suburban Electric Supply," said a senior IAS officer adding that around 72 per cent of work has been completed.

The main task of the project was to decongest traffic in the area. But due to civic apathy, people are still waiting to see the completed project. Once completed, the flyover is expected to improve traffic in the area, particularly around ISBT Kashmere Gate, Mori Gate, Shakti Nagar, Karol Bagh, Gulabi Bagh, Kamla Nagar, Sadar Bazar, Paharganj, and Azad Market.

ANAYSIS

Two years ago, then-Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung also inspected the project thrice and tried to resolve various land acquisition issues, but Jung could not see the completion of the flyover. Will Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal manage to witness the completion of the project during his tenure is the biggest question?

Impediments to Flyover

Handing over of private property land by LAC/GNCTD.
Exchange of land with Railways.
Exchange of land with DUSIB (Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board)
Shifting of MCD and GNCTD schools, markets etc.
Taking over of land from St Stephen Hospital and M/s DCM Ltd etc.
Permission to cut more than 612 trees.
Shifting of 05 Transformers of Power Distribution Companies including street light poles / HT power cables etc.
Shifting of 04 Nos of rising water mains of dia 900 mm to 1100 mm & shifting of numerous small size of water lines, trunk sewer/small size sewers.
Shifting of numerous MTNL cables.
Shifting of DTC bus stops.

LAND ISSUES

The acquired land was partly handed over in phases up to the year 2015. The remaining land is still to be handed over by L&B department and held up on account of status quo granted by Hon'ble High Court.
Handing over of 102 sqm land at Beri Wala Bagh and 700 sqm land at Model Basti is pending as on date.
An area of 124 sqm is yet to be acquired at Model Basti.
The issue of land with Railway was settled only in the year 2016 except for some minor issues.