Janak Setu to be open for Diwali

After promising to fix streetlights before Diwali, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is likely to add another gift to residents’ kitty.

After promising to fix streetlights before Diwali, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is likely to add another gift to residents’ kitty.

HT Image

The civic body has decided to open a carriageway of the Janak Setu, which has been closed since June. The bridge connects West Delhi with Delhi Cantt and its closure has lead to rampant jams on the adjacent roads. With the Diwali rush expected to add to the choc-a-block jam, the MCD has decided to allow light vehicles like small cars coming from Tilak Nagar towards Delhi Cantt. No truck will be allowed to pass through it.

The civic body took the decision after deliberations with Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, which has been studying the cracks that developed on the bridge.

After Diwali, the MCD will start work on its redevelopment and modern lights will be put up on the bridge.

“The MCD has approved a proposal of R7.6 crore for the project. Work will continue for a couple of months to fix the road,” said a senior official of the MCD.

Jagdish Mamgain, chairman, works committee, MCD, said the closure had caused numerous problems for residents of West Delhi. “On Monday, a team from CBRI visited the bridge and based on their recommendation, the MCD will open a carriageway to ease the flow of traffic,” he said.

The bridge has been shut since June, when a portion of the Janak Setu bridge, on the road connecting Tihar with Delhi Cantonment, sagged by five to seven inches.

At that time the MCD was in the process of making plans to restore the bridge, which is nearly three decades old. The Janak Setu was constructed in 1981-82 as part of Asian Games project.