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Tourism Minister says decade-long project to be completed by December Tourism Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam took stock of construction work at the Signature Bridge in Wazirabad on Wednesday, issuing directions that it be completed by December. Financial constraints On May 21, The Hindu had reported that construction of the ₹1,600-crore project, which was proposed to connect the northern and eastern extremities of the Capital, was facing budgetary constraints that may push the completion date beyond December 2017. The contractor incharge of executing the project, which is in its last stage, has sought around ₹250 crore and eight more months for completion, said Mr. Gautam, who visited the site on Wednesday. “I made it clear that there will not be any revision of deadline. However, I will look into their demand for more funds and consult experts to see whether it is justified. Work has slowed down, but I have written to the Chief Secretary for things to be expedited,” he added. Proposed tourist site “The contractor cited some reasons. The workers had encountered a big rock under the Yamuna and they had to get machines from abroad to remove it, which took up some time,” the Minister added. According to an official, ₹20 crore is expended on construction of the project — with its steel towers planned to be double the height of Qutub Minar and proposed waterfront development that successive governments, including the AAP, intend to build as a tourist attraction — each month. Apart from connecting the north-east part of the Capital to outer Delhi, the bridge will be a gateway to Tronica City in adjacent Ghaziabad, which is being developed on the lines of sub-cities like Indirapuram and Kaushambi. Not the first delay According to the government, the Signature Bridge had obtained environmental clearance in 2011 and was set to be completed by December 2013. The date of completion was pushed to June 2016 and then July 2017 which was further pushed to December 2017. According to sources, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as 1997, at an initial cost of ₹464 crore. Announced in 2004, the project received a nod from the Delhi Cabinet in 2007 and was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of ₹1,131 crore by the Commonwealth Games in 2010. As of 2015, the cost of the project had gone up to ₹1,594 crore.