HC asks for details of costs incurred for Signature Bridge

The Delhi High Court today wished to know the variation in costs incurred for the Signature Bridge across Yamuna from the time the project was envisaged.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also sought information from the Delhi government on when the timeline was changed or extended.
The court issued the direction to the authorities on a public interest litigation (PIL) by advocate Pratibha Chopra, who pointed to inordinate delay in the project and alleged that the construction of the Signature Bridge has missed several deadlines since 2011.
Taking note of this, the bench had on October 16 directed the authorities to place on affidavit the timeline with regard to the construction and completion of the bridge which connects Delhi with the industrial areas of Uttar Pradesh, like the Tronica city in Ghaziabad.

It had also directed the Public Works Department of the Delhi government to ensure that a structural and technical audit of the Wazirabad bridge in Northeast Delhi, which is currently being used to commute between Delhi and UP.
It had asked the authorities to audit Wazirabad bridge "forthwith" and file a status report.

In reply to the court's direction, the Delhi government's Urban Development Department and the Public Works Department informed the court that a request letter for joint site inspection and working out a diversion plan for vehicular traffic was addressed by them to the DCP traffic.
They also told the court that they have floated a tender to get better response of the bidders for the proposed work on the Wazirabad bridge.

The bench, however, was unhappy over their stand and said that the authorities should not delay the process.
The court fixed the matter for February 28 next year, by when the authorities have been asked to file status reports.
Announced in 2004, the project received a nod from the Delhi Cabinet in 2007 and was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore by the Commonwealth Games that was held here in October 2010.
In 2015, the initial cost of the project rose to Rs 1,594 crore. Reportedly, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as in 1997 at an initial cost pegged at Rs 464 crore.

The Signature Bridge, when completed, is expected to share the burden of vehicular traffic which is being borne by the Wazirabad bridge.
Seeking to expedite the completion of construction, the plea has contended that lives of lakhs of commuters, who are regularly stranded for over 3-4 hours a day on Wazirabad bridge, are at risk as it is an old and ageing bridge which can cave in anytime.
A tragedy is waiting to happen, the plea has said and added that the proposed Signature Bridge will positively change traffic condition on both sides of Yamuna and benefit people.
The plea said to avoid any tragic fallout, the agencies should complete the project or else they should be ready to take responsibility in case of any mishap.

According to the government, the Signature Bridge had obtained environmental clearance in 2011 and was set to be completed by December 2013. The date of completion was pushed to June 2016 and then to July 2017, which was further pushed to December 2017, and is now expected to be delayed further.