Day before inauguration by CM Arvind Kejriwal, flyover forcefully ‘opened’

Former Congress MP Mahabal Mishra (centre) with his supporters at the flyover on Saturday. (Photo: Asian Age)

A day before its scheduled inaugural by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, former Congress MP Mahabal Mishra has cut the ribbon for the 3.4 km elevated road from Vikaspuri to Meera Bagh on the Outer Ring Road. He said that funds for the project were allocated by the previous Sheila Dikshit government.

After the so-called inauguration of the road, Mr Mishra said the government has incurred a loss of Rs 43 crore. Several local Congress leaders joined the former member of Lok Sabha from West Delhi for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The road was contracted for Rs 407 crore in February 2013, but the AAP government has spent Rs 450 crore on it, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee said. The party claimed that work related to horticulture and rain harvesting is still pending.

“With the completion of this elevated road project which has provision for rain water harvesting, the following five intersections will become signal free: Anand Kunj T-junction, Manohar Nagar crossing, Keshopur crossing, Sabji Mandi T-junction and Meera Bagh T-junction,” a government statement said.

The project will benefit those in areas like Janakpuri, Vikaspuri, Tilak Nagar, Jwalaheri, Pashcim Vihar and Bhera Enclave.

According to the government, commuters will save 12 minutes of traffic time after the elevated road becomes functional.

Mr Mishra also accused the Delhi chief minister for making false claims. The previous Congress government had sanctioned Rs 560 crore for the road in June 2012.

“In Decemeber 2012, Rs 464 crore was taken as the estimated cost. In February 2013, after competitive tendering, Rs 407 crore was fixed as the cost of the project and sanctioned by the government,” a DPCC statement said.

The party said the Delhi government’s claim that it has saved Rs 110 crore on the project is false.