EFC approves Rs 77.92 crore underpass at Ashram Chowk
New Delhi: The much delayed underpass at Ashram Chowk, owing to tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre over funding, received a shot in the arm as the Expenditure Finance Committee, chaired by Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia and the PWD Minister Satyender Jain gave approval to the 77.92 crore project. This underpass is connecting Nizamuddin Railway Bridge in North and CSIR Apartments in South.
The PWD department's DPR was placed before EFC for consideration that Ashram Chowk is one of the busiest road junctions of Delhi and the present road capacity is inadequate to cater to the traffic demand, because the Ashram Chowk is junction of Mathura road and Ring Road.
This project is 750-metre tunnel under the Ring Road towards Mathura road and a pedestrian bridge near the CSI Apartments. The construction of Ashram underpass is itself an uphill task, because the Pink Corridor of Delhi Metro is passing through Ashram Chowk underground here. It was first conceived in 2014 and approved by Delhi lieutenant-Governor and the Unified Traffic & Transportation Infrastructure ( Planning & Engineering Centre in January, 2016. The underpass will be ready and opened for public by mid 2020.
The EFC also approved Delhi Health & family Welfare department's proposal for construction of new Block of ninth storey building with basement for a 460 beds Mother & Child hospital at Khichiripur at an estimated cost of Rs 143.73 crore. With approval for streetscaping of Road no-43 from Britannia Chowk to Outer Ring Road will be done at an estimated cost of Rs 38.81 crore . The EFC also approved construction of Sports Complex at Village Kai, Najafgarh at an estimated cost of Rs 139.16 crore. The objective of the proposal is to promote sports and games activities in the schools and development of sports facilities in the Outer Delhi.
The EFC approved another construction of integrated Election Complex at Bhakhtawarpur at an estimated cost of Rs 48.38 crore. The office of Chief Electoral Officer has submitted a preliminary estimate to the Finance Department. Sisodia, who holds the finance portfolio, said that the executing agency had funds to continue work till July end and so the finance committee approved the final installment at a revised total estimated cost of Rs 567.
