Delhi’s iconic Signature Bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. The eight-lane carriageway would reduce the travel time between North and North-East Delhi by 35 minutes.
However, the grand ceremony to open the much-awaited bridge was marred by the presence of Manoj Tiwari, the Member of Parliament (MP) from North-East Delhi and Delhi BJP’s president. Tiwari arrived at the venue along with his supporters who later clashed with the supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The unsavoury situation was salvaged by the Delhi Police personnel who ensured that nothing untoward happened.
Congratulating Delhiites on the occasion, Kejriwal said that this wonderful achievement will attract the people, specially the tourists. Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia cut the ribbon and unveiled the plaque at the entry.
“Four days ago, the 182-metre tallest statue of the world was unveiled and today this 154-metre high bridge is being inaugurated. The country has to decide if it needs statues and temples or bridges, schools and hospitals,” Kejriwal said while inaugurating the bridge.
He said the thought of the Signature Bridge reminded him of the first Prime Minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru.
“If Nehru had chosen to build temples and statues instead of institutions like BHEL and SAIL, then the country would not have progressed. The country would languish in 15th century if temples and mosques are given preferences over science, technology and research,” Kejriwal added. He alleged that in order to stop his Government from completing the bridge, the officials and engineers were issued threats of CBI raids against them. “The Signature Bridge has been completed only because there is an honest Government in Delhi,” Kejriwal asserted.
Sisodia also alleged that “obstacles” were raised by the Modi Government so that the Signature Bridge was not completed during the rule of AAP Government in Delhi.
“Had Modi Government contributed one inch to this bridge, I would myself have chanted ‘Modi-Modi’ like those who are showing black flags,” he said, referring to the BJP supporters who were camped nearby along with Manoj Tiwari.
In a direct attack on Tiwari, Sisodia said if he was “so fond of” going to inaugurals then he should work constructively. Sisodia spoke of the hurdles faced by the Government time and again in completing the construction of the bridge.
“The ‘Signature Bridge’ as the new landmark of New Delhi will connect Wazirabad across the river Yamuna to the inner city. The western and eastern approaches to the bridge will connect the nearby areas like Timarpur, Nehru Vihar, Wazirabad, Aruna Nagar, Mukherjee Nagar on Ring Road to
Bhajanpura on Mangal Pandey Marg. The distance between the two ends of the bridge will be reduced from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes, reducing pollution, travel time and fuel consumption,” a Delhi Government spokesperson said.
The approaches on eastern side (1.8 km long) and western side (1.5 km long flyover on Outer Ring Road) of the bridge as well as a dedicated cycle track had been completed long back and have already been opened to traffic in phases, the spokesperson said.
He further said that the components of overall project that are independent of bridge are already in use by the public. The main bridge (cable-stayed) over river Yamuna is also completed now to take the traffic, he added.
The official said that it is the first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge in India and will offer a panoramic view of the city. “Four elevators will take a total of 50 people to the top of the bridge. It will have designated spots for selfie-crazy Delhiites. The elevators area likely to be operational in two months,” he said.
The boomerang-shaped pylon consists of two inclined columns which are rigidly connected to the driving lanes and bend mid-way. The upper portion of the pylon anchors the backstay cables as well as the main-span cables, arranged in a harp like manner. The top of the pylon is created by a 22 m high steel-glass structure, which will provide a panoramic view of Delhi.
The proposal was first mooted in 2004 and received approval of the Delhi Cabinet in 2007. It was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore for the Commonwealth Games, held in Delhi in October 2010.
Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Satyendar Jain, Gopal Rai, Imran Hussain, Rajendra Pal Gautam, Member of Parliament SK Gupta, ND Gupta and other senior officers were also present on this occasion.
