Trial run of Signature Bridge to be delayed

Italian experts involved with project leave midway

The construction of the much- awaited Signature Bridge on the Yamuna is set to pick up pace as the CPWD has endorsed an additional estimate of around ` 231 crore of the DTTDC to complete the project, an official has said. The PWD had sought the Central Public Works Department’s “expert opinion” after the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation ( DTTDC) had submitted a revised estimate of ` 1,575 crore.

Of the revised estimate, the Delhi government has released ` 1,344 crore for the project that has witnessed cost escalation several times since its construction started.

However, earlier in the day, a senior official had said that all the critical works related to the Signature Bridge have stopped due to delay in release of payments. The trial run for the bridge was supposed to start from June but the official said that it is not possible to start it by that time as two Italian experts, engaged with the project, left it midway since the money was not disbursed on time to them.

“Only non- critical works are on for now since the money has not been released. Infact, the PWD ( Public Works Department) has already given ` 36 crore to the DTTDC, but it has not released the amount the contractor. Two Italian experts who were engaged with the project stopped it mid way and left the country since they did not get payments,” he had said.

Last week, the Delhi high court had pulled up the PWD and the DTTDC for “quibbling over” the amount to be paid for construction of the “long overdue” Signature Bridge. The court also gave them the last opportunity to ensure the project is completed without any increase in cost.