Flyover project on busy W Delhi stretch delayed

Commuters using the west Delhi section of the Ring Road between Punjabi Bagh and Moti Nagar are likely to continue to face heavy congestion and delays for at least another three months as the Public Works Department has pushed the deadline for the construction of an elevated corridor between Raja Garden flyover and Punjabi Bagh flyover May 31 this year.

- Paras Singh

Earlier, the project was to be finished by January 31, 2024.

According to a progress report of the project prepared by the department, 85% of the civil work has been completed but there will be delays on account of shifting utilities -- overhead high-tension power lines and Delhi Jal Board water lines. However, the department plans to open the Moti Nagar section of the corridor by early March, senior officers involved in the project said.

A senior PWD official said that the power discom is likely to complete work on shifting the overhead power lines by March. "We will also need forest department's permission for tree felling and a DJB water pipeline passing through the right of way in Club Road flyover also needs to be relocated. Due to these hurdles, the completion deadline has been shifted to May 31, 2024," the official who asked not to be named said.

But the official said the Moti Nagar flyover's basic structure is ready and it can be opened for the traffic once the black-topping of carriageway is done. "It needs 10 days of work to open the road for traffic. We were hoping to bring construction material from Faridabad but this has been temporarily delayed due to restrictions in the wake of farmers' protest. We hope to open the Moti Nagar section by early March," the official added.