In order to accomplish the Herculean task of constructing a 154 m high tower, preparations are underway to bring the central pylon made of high-grade steel to the national Capital.
The central pylon will connect the main deck of Delhi's much awaited Signature Bridge with the help of cables. Two blocks weighing 400 tonnes each are being transported from Gujarat harbour to Delhi on special trailers that are made in Germany.
Officials said that apart from modifying the road alignments, strength survey of various roads and flyovers is also underway to transport the heavy blocks. The two blocks will be used to support the tower and will appear like its legs.
"These blocks, which will act as the foundation of the tower, are being brought on special trailers with 144 wheels each and fitted with hydraulic systems. Provisions have been made so the trailers do not cause any damage to the roads and flyovers, which they pass and do not topple due to the weight. The blocks weigh 400 tonnes each, which will be used as two legs of the tower that will be erected across the Yamuna River," said a senior official.
According to Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) officials, German logistics transport company is responsible to carry these structures without any damage to Delhi.
The width of the trailers is seven metres and according to the officials, many roads falling in between the Kanda harbour and Delhi are not seven-metre width. Due to this, at many locations either the traffic is being diverted or the roads are being widened.
Apart from this, a huge challenge in transporting these blocks are the flyovers and therefore a strength review of the flyovers is being conducted so that they do not cave in due to enormous weight of the steel blocks.
Officials added that the parts have already travelled a distance of 250 km to Rajasthan and are expected to reach Delhi by the first week of August.
These blocks will travel a distance of over 1,600 km and will reach Delhi via Sonepat. They said that equally challenging task will be to unload these structures and hence, for the purpose, a special crane weighing 1,200 tonnes will reach Wazirabad by July-end.