Deploy more workers at Chirag Delhi: Atishi
NEW DELHI: Public Works Department (PWD) minister Atishi on Saturday directed that the closed carriageway of the Chirag Delhi flyover be opened by April 1, officials said.
During inspection of the maintenance works — being carried out in two 25-day stages — the minister also directed that the number of workers and machines deployed be increased and a better traffic management plan is put in place for when the second phase begins.
The first stage, which began on March 12, involves work on the Nehru Place-iit Delhi carriageway, which has been shut. The work on this stretch of the flyover was to be completed by March 31, but is running two days behind schedule due to the rains, officials said.
“Our priority is to keep Delhi roads traffic-free. PWD is working on a war footing in this direction and will complete the maintenance work of the Chirag Delhi flyover soon so that people can get relief from traffic,” Atishi said during the inspection, where officials of PWD and Delhi Police were also present.
The closure of the carriageway has led to jams on the Outer Ring Road with commuters reporting delays of 25-30 minutes in crossing the Chirag Delhi intersection.
“The minister asked the officials to expedite the maintenance work on the first part of the flyover and prepare to open it for traffic by April 1,” a Delhi government official said, adding that chief minister Arvind Kejriwal too was monitoring the works.
A senior officer of Delhi traffic police, who was part of the inspection, said that adequate traffic personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow on the currently open stretch of the flyover.
“We’ve already deployed our personnel in three shifts of eight hours each. If required, we’ll deploy more personnel,” the officials said, asking not to be named.
The opposite stretch of the flyover will be shut for another 25 days for structural repairs once the current closure is lifted.
At that time, chief minister Kejriwal has recommended, one of the two lanes will be kept open for traffic, according to officials aware of the matter. The maintenance work of the closed carriageway was supposed to be completed in 50 days, but there may be slight delays due to unexpected weather, PWD officials said.