Delhi Budget: 26 road infra projects to battle Capital congestion
The total allocation for the transport, roads and bridges sector in the budgetary proposals for 2023-24 is ₹9337 crore — a slight decrease from the ₹9539 crore allocated in last year’s Budget.
The Delhi government plans to undertake 26 new road infrastructure projects which are aimed at decongesting the Capital, finance minister Kailash Gahlot said on Wednesday, while presenting the Budget 2023-24.
Of these projects — flyovers, bridges and underpasses — 10 are under construction, 11 are in the planning stage and five are in the tendering stage, Gahlot said.
“These include landmark projects such as the Barapullah Phase 3 flyover from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar, the flyover from Punjabi Bagh to Raja Garden, and the elevated road at Najafgarh Phirni. When completed, these infrastructure projects will substantially shorten the daily commute of lakhs of residents and tourists in the national capital, while also easing traffic congestion and vehicular pollution,” the minister said, adding that the government has allocated ₹772 crore for infrastructure projects for utilisation in 2023-24.
The total allocation for the transport, roads and bridges sector in the budgetary proposals for 2023-24 is ₹9337 crore — a slight decrease from the ₹9539 crore allocated in last year’s Budget.
The minister also noted that ₹320 crore has been allocated for the construction of three double-decker flyovers, being developed in collaboration with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). “Vehicles will run on the lower end of these flyovers, while the Metro rail will run on the upper deck,” he said.
Gahlot said that in other states, the construction of a flyover sees manifold increase in costs till its completion, but the Aam Aadmi Party government, during its tenure, has managed to save ₹536 crore while building various infrastructure projects.
Also read: Explained: Who to blame for the first delay in tabling Delhi budget in 30 years?
“Over the last eight years, the government has completed landmark infrastructure projects such as the Signature Bridge, phase 2 of the Barapullah flyover, the Ashram flyover (extension)…,” he said.
In a post-Budget press conference, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the AAP government has already built 28 flyovers/bridges in the city, and is working on another 26 projects in different parts of the Capital. “Some of these projects are in an advanced stage. Three unique double-deckers flyovers will be built in Delhi. Around 4-5 years ago, the Delhi government conceptualised it and said that their construction will save a lot of public money,” he said.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said the claim of 28 flyovers being built by the AAP government is a blatant lie. “They should release the list of the flyovers that were conceived, executed and completed by the government. This is a fake claim. Infrastructure has collapsed under their rule. Many of these flyovers were already in completion stage by the previous government,” he said.
