Addressing the crowd at the inaugural ceremony, Kejriwal said, "The credit for this road from Azadpur to Shalimar Bagh goes to Sheila Dikshit,"adding that the foundation stone for the project was laid in June 2013 during her tenure.
A rare in the country, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday inaugurated a six-lane elevated road at a prominent stretch of the capital, that cost Rs143 crore, as against the Rs247 crore originally pegged for the work.
Described as the 'eight wonder of the world' by Kejriwal, the 1.6-km road which has been built on the ring road will connect Azadpur and Prembari Pul in north Delhi. According to officials from PWD, it will bring down commuting time by 12 minutes everyday from the 30 minutes it takes currently, as it will bypass major traffic intersections on the stretch such as Ashok Vihar, Shalimar Bagh and Wazirpur. It will also bring down traffic substantially on the entire Ring Road, as well as bring down noise levels for the surrounding buildings.
Addressing the crowd at the inaugural ceremony, Kejriwal said, "The credit for this road from Azadpur to Shalimar Bagh goes to Sheila Dikshit,"adding that the foundation stone for the project was laid in June 2013 during her tenure.
"The sanctioned cost for the project was Rs 247 crore but it was completed at an actual cost of Rs 143 crore by Delhi's PWD (Public Works Department),"he said, as he went on to say that this can happen only in an honest government, terming the progress miraculous.
"20 per cent of the work was completed during the ending phase of Sheilaji's tenure. We came to power and continued with the project and completed the pending 80 per cent construction in eight months," he said.
"We can make two flyovers at the cost of one. We will not pay tax payers'money," he said, adding that usually flyovers pegged at the initial cost of Rs 250 crore is ultimately built at Rs 500 crore.
Kejriwal said the Centre's urban development department has been supportive and that he is trying to sort out issues with other central departments.
Naidu, too, congratulated Kejriwal saying he Public Works Department (PWD) has done a good job and he thanked the department for constructing such a flyover.
A special team monitored the project on a daily basis and new 'pre-cast' cement technology was used for the project.
The project was delayed for months as it was pending before the National Green Tribunal, which did not give permission to cut trees.
The PWD had sought permission to cut around 1,200 trees but was eventually permitted to cut about 700 trees.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}