Signature Bridge to be ready by June 2016: Delhi govt

The revised cost of the under-construction Signature Bridge in north Delhi will not exceed Rs 1,594 crore and the project would be completed and opened to people by June 30 next year, government today said.
After missing several deadlines, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra conducted a weekly review of the construction work of the iconic bridge at Wazirabad, which once completed would improve connectivity between north Delhi and eastern parts of the city, alongside neighbouring Ghaziabad.
"The project was decided by the previous (Dikshit) government and even the proposal for more money for the bridge was pending before we came to power. We have frozen the project cost at Rs 1,594 crore and it will not be increased by a rupee.

"We will thrown it open before June 30, 2016. I am monitoring the entire work and taking a weekly review. If the contractors fail to deliver then strict action would be taken against them," Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra told PTI.
The bridge is 675 m-long and 154 m-high and will have two carriageways of four lanes each. The bow-shaped, cable-supported steel bridge - modelled on the London Bridge - is being built as a tourist spot in collaboration with three firms, two of which are from Italy and Brazil.
Mishra said that day-wise plan of the project till its completion would be reviewed and status-gap will be measured. A status report on Signature Bridge construction will be published online every week.

At present, all the foundations except an integrated pile well have been completed. The erection work of pylon is in progress, an official said.

"Piling work is targeted to be completed by October 31 this year and then it will take about six months to complete the reaming activities on foundation and superstructure. Thereafter main and cross girders will be placed followed by cast-in-situ slab," the senior officer said.
Cost of the project escalated during the previous government and estimated cost of Rs 1,131 crore was accorded to the government of Delhi during the year 2010.
"Out of sanctioned fund of Rs 1,131 crores for the project, the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) has so far received only Rs 1,021.83 crores. A balance of Rs 109.17 is yet not released by the PWD.

"This has also led to discontinuation in cement supply to the site by the supplier due to non-release of their payment," the officer said.