Why A Short Stretch Has Failed, Most Residents Are Asking
The Delhi government has failed to deliver on time and crossed all limits of credibility on the extension of the Ashram flyover. Residents of South Delhi, especially those living in the vicinity of Ashram Flyover, like Maharani Bagh, Kalindi, New Friends Colony, Friends Colony, Siddharth Enclave, Taimour Nagar, Bharat Nagar and so on are “sick and tired of this endurance test” by the city government that is constantly extending the deadline, even after the under-construction flyover was inaugurated by the Chief Minister with much fanfare on 6 March 2023.
Though the PWD Minister in charge, Ms Atishi, is an MLA from the same Constituency it seems the project lacks professional management and supervision. Each time the deadline is crossed, another new issue is put forth for the delay.
The saga of delays for the extension of the DND/ Sarai Kale Khan flyover that was to join the existing Ashram flyover started with a change in the contracting agency. Apparently, according to the city police the City government owes the old contracting company several crores therefore it refused to continue unless the outstanding bills were cleared.
A new Company was taken on board, but it refused to work on the loop-connecting the DND flyover to the Ashram stretch as that was not mentioned in their ‘TOR- Terms of Reference’.
Even though, over a period of time some assertive and frustrated commuters with light vehicles, like two-wheelers and small automobiles pushed their way through to start using the flyover on one side that had been covered with bitumen, the heavy vehicles were barred from using the flyover.
The issue now was that high-tension power lines over the other half of the road had to be relocated. Why wasn’t this foreseen earlier is another matter. Now this reporter was informed by the police that these have been shifted and this restriction is over but the approach road to the loop-ramp has no bitumen cover, and the stretch remains barricaded.
However, according to a leading newspaper report, published a few days ago, the PWD officials say that lack of funds has stalled the project. Apparently, the project file seeking a release of funds is with the Delhi government and once the funds are sanctioned the work starts again.
Senior officers of the Delhi police informed this reporter that several meetings were held between the Delhi Government and the police department to pressurize them to complete the project. “Madam, we are wasting our time here, every morning trying to streamline the traffic. If it was a smooth drive we could have been deployed in more pressing areas of Delhi,” said the officer on duty.
“It has been four-long years, the residents have been penalized for living in this neighbourhood, first it was the endless wait for the underpass construction and now this extension. Why are we paying property taxes if we can’t enjoy the benefits of an A- designated neighbourhood?” asks a resident. He goes on to inquire if there are any lawyers in these colonies who can take the city government to court for failing to deliver the quality of living conditions befitting the Colony’s stature? “We demand a refund on our taxes for the period we have suffered,” he asserts.
In fact, if a precedent is set to penalize the government and speak for the citizens’ rights, perhaps the governments would be more professional in executing infrastructural projects. If the National Highways are meeting the deadlines with high quality work, why a short stretch has failed, most residents are asking.
with busses changing lanes frequently
