Lieutenant Governor (LG) took charge of Signature Bridge, directed to AAP led Delhi government for the monthly progress report
Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal took charge of long pending completion of Signature Bridge, and given the direction for the monthly progress report of the bridge to AAP led Delhi government after the visit of the construction site. The project which was conceptualized in 2004 and is being executed by the Delhi Tourism Department, the move is intended at monitoring timely completion. The work tender for the bridge project was awarded in February 2010 by then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. the bridge near Wazirabad, has been missed several deadlines, is now expected to be completed by April 2017. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had also ordered to all HoDs to submit a weekly status report of all proposals and projects to the concerned ministers and the copy of the same to be sent to the Chief Minister and Lt Governor. The tourism minister Kapil Mishra has inspected the site to check on the progress in September Last year, and set a final deadline of April 2017 by the Delhi AAP Government. Recently, the government extended the deadline for completion by five months from April to September this year. In the past decade, only one bridge has come up at Geeta Colony in 2008 while The national capital is waiting to have more such bridges to improve the connectivity form east and north Delhi. some are in the pipeline like Signature Bridge, Barapullah Phase III and one near Kalindi Kunj. The project, often called a \”white elephant\” by the current AAP government whose construction it could not cancel due to the amount of work already put into it, was meant to be showcased during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. It is being built on the lines of the London Bridge. It is being built on the lines of the London Bridge, was meant to be showcased during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. AAP government often called the project \”white elephant\” whose construction it could not cancel due to the amount of work already put into it.The previous government had allocated a budget of Rs 1, 131 crore for Signature Bridge, Rs 1,225 crore has been spent on the project so far.The delays have shot up its estimated cost of the bridge project from Rs 887 crore to Rs 1,594 crore.the AAP government had set a deadline for 2016 end in February last year.But then the deadline was extended again.While The Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation, which is implementing the project had cited various reasons for the delay like the forest clearance etc.But the government claimed that the major issue was with the Chinese firm from which the material was being sourced.
