After four missed deadlines, Barapullah elevated corridor phase-ii to open today
NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will inaugurate phase-ii of the Barapullah elevated Corridor on Saturday, which had missed four deadline previous since 2015.
After opening of the second phase, between Sarai Kale Khan and INA Market at Aurobindo Marg, traffic movement will be eased between east and south Delhi upto the All India Institute Medical Sciences and Safadarjung Hospital.
Known as Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Setu, Phase-ii of the six-lane signal-free route was delayed as the Railways was doing some work at Sewa Nagar crossing which was completed in June, a Public Work Department (PWD) officer confirmed.
“The work by the PWD is now complete and the roads will become functional after a formal inauguration which will happen by 28 July,” the officer said.
“The stretch will help in reducing traffic congestion on Ring Road, Bhairon Road and Mathura Road-ashram intersection and Jangpura Road over-bridge,” he further said.
Work on the second phase of the flyover, sanctioned in 2012 and started a year later, was initially slated to be completed by 2015.
The deadline was extended to September 2017, December 2017 and then to March 2018. It also missed its June 2018 deadline.
The flyover will not only connect east and south Delhi but also help commuters from neighbouring Ghaziabad and Noida to reach AIIMS and Safdarjung hospitals in a shorter time. The first phase starting from Sarai Kale Khan to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is already operational, along with two connections with Lala Lajpat Rai Marg.
The four kilometre first phase of the elevated road over Barapullah Nallah connected Sarai Kale Khan and JLN Stadium.
The extended two-km second phase will connect Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and INA Market.
The third phase of the corridor to Mayur Vihar is under construction and is yet to get a new deadline after missing its October 2017 completion date.
Once the 3.5 km stretch phase-iii is completed, travel time between Mayur Vihar and south Delhi will reduce to 15-20 minutes from an hour. It will also reduce travel time for commuter from east Delhi to the Delhi airport.