PWD, art panel fight over bypass project

Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) have once again come face to face on the proposed alignment of the Ring Road Bypass project, reports Atul Mathur.

Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) have once again come face to face on the proposed alignment of the Ring Road Bypass project.

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PWD sources say the objections raised by DUAC on the alignment of the bypass, which connects Yamuna Velodrome with Salim Garh fort, has jeopardised its construction.

PWD sources said that the DUAC has been sitting over the project for almost two years and any further delay will leave little time for the PWD to complete the project.

The Bypass project has been conceived to decongest the Ring Road between Indraprastha Estate and Hanuman Setu behind the Red Fort.

The 6.1-km long bypass is expected to cost Rs 650.34 crore. According to a survey, more than 2.1 lakh vehicles pass through Rajghat and Shantivan traffic intersections on Ring Road every day.

“The DUAC has now asked us to change the alignment of the road to prevent about 200 trees along the ring road from cutting. Even if we make those changes, we will still have to cut the equal number of trees. Rather, it will create problems for merging traffic at various points,” a PWD engineer said.

According to senior PWD engineers, the Ring Road Bypass will be a major connecting link between the Indira Gandhi Stadium and the Commonwealth Games village and an important road for the distribution of traffic coming from east Delhi through Geeta Colony Bridge.

PWD officials said the construction has to be completed before the Commonwealth Games 2010 for which they are now left with less than two years.

“Execution of a project of this magnitude requires a minimum of 18-20 months. We cannot afford to delay the commencement of this project,” PWD superintending engineer Sarvagya Srivastava said.

Running against time, the PWD has now asked DUAC to clear the project immediately paving way for its construction.

“We have made several modifications in the project as suggested by DUAC. But it has now asked us to change the alignment of the road to prevent about 200 trees along the ring road. Even if we make those changes, we will still have to cut the equal number of trees, rather it is going to create a mess,” Srivastava added.