After missing several deadlines, the much-awaited eastern approach of the under-construction Signature Bridge at Wazirabad will be opened by the end of this month.
Once open, the eastern approach will cut short the travel time between Bhajanpura and Yamuna Vihar and Sahibabad to Wazirabad. PWD Minister Somnath Bharti on Thursday announced that the flyover at Khajuri Khas intersection in northeast Delhi that is part of the eastern approaches of the Signature Bridge project will be thrown open for the public use in next 15 to 20 days. The flyover will terminate near Wazirabad and will significantly help in decongesting the intersection and relieve the flow of traffic to Wazirabad.
The flyover has missed several deadlines — including one in 2012 and another last year. The eastern approaches being constructed near Bhajanpura comprise a 1.8-km-long embankment to connect the main bridge with Marginal Bund Road at Khajuri Khas intersection. The Signature Bridge project is divided into two parts, approaches and main bridge.
However, the Minister refused to comment on the completion of the entire Signature Bridge project which will connect the east and the west side. The flyover on the western approach was open to public in 2012 earlier last year and helped connect Mukarba Chowk with ISBT. The work on the approaches started in the year 2008.
The Wazirabad project was an ambitious project of the Sheila Dikshit Government and was announced in the year 2004 at the cost of 1,131 crore. The project was initiated with a plan of making this a landmark bridge, the surrounding areas were to be developed as tourist destinations. The proposed bridge is being constructed across Yamuna, 600 metres downstream from the barrage at Wazirabad, and will be a bow-shaped, cable-stay structure. The main deck of the bridge will be supported by cables, which in turn will be connected to a central pylon. Some of the asymmetrical parts of the central pylon made of high-grade steel being manufactured in China have arrived India.