Signature Bridge still a distant dream
15 May 2012 3:26 PM IST
It seems like the proposed 'landmark' of Delhi, Signature Bridge, would take longer than estimated to be completed.
At around Rs 1,131 crore, the project, which includes two phases – approaches and the main bridge – was announced in 2004 by the Delhi government.
The work is being executed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited (DTTDC) on behalf of the Delhi government. The scheme was approved by the technical committee of Delhi Development Authority way back in May 2006.
After that, it took two years, for the Yamuna Committee to approve the scheme.
Earlier, the officials claimed that entire project was expected to be completed by December 2013.
However, on conditions of anonymity, a senior official from department said, 'It is impossible to complete the project by next year. There a lot of work still left to be done.'
The work on the approaches was started in June 2008, which was awarded an amount of Rs 348.90 crore. The approaches would be multi-level grade separators with loops, ramps and rotaries. On the Western approach, the flyover would be constructed along the Outer Ring Road. Loop and ramps would be constructed to connect main bridge with Outer Ring Road. Only the foundation and piers of main flyover on Outer Ring Road (western approaches) have been completed.
While the right carriageway of the main flyover has been completed and has been opened to traffic, only two spans of the left carriageway need to be put in place for it to be completed.
According to officials, the approaches, to give the project a unique design, would have rib-shaped pre-cast segmental integral structures. The concrete ramps have also been given a bamboo finish.
'The problem is that there are too many experts who are heading this project. We are taking help from six countries to make this cable-strength bridge, which will be the second in India. There is also communication gap as we need to coordinate with Germans and Chinese,' said the senior official.
The Eastern approaches are being constructed near Bhajanpura. It comprises of a 1.8-km-long embankment to connect the main bridge with Marginal Bund Road at Khajuri Khas intersection.
'A flyover would also be constructed comprising of ground-level rotaries at Khajuri Khas intersection. The flyover would end near Wazirabad and would help decongest the intersection,' said an engineer from DTTDC.
On Eastern approaches, 19 out of 24 wells and 18 piers out of 28 piers have been completed. Three spans out of 22 spans of the flyover at Khajuri Khas intersection have also been completed.
Sources also said that the project was initiated with a plan of making this a landmark bridge and the surrounding areas were to be developed as tourist destinations.
Adjoining the signature bridge, a water body would be created for water sports and an elevator would also be installed at the main bridge for visitors to see the entire city from 135 meter above the ground-level.
Clearance was also another hurdle, which the department is facing to complete the project. According to officials, the forest clearance – to clear forest – was given only in January this year. While the trees could only be cut a few months ago, the work on the main bridge began in March 2010.
In the bridge, the foundation work of all 18 well foundations are currently in progress. The main bridge is a bow-shaped, cable-stay structure. The main deck of the bridge would be supported by cables, which in turn would be connected to a central pylon. The fabrication of pylon, which is made of high-grade steel and main girders are being manufactured in China. The embedded bearing plates have already been fabricated and been shipped from Shanghai to Mumbai.
But sources also revealed that the first consignment of fabricated materials of pylon base, cross tie, main girders and cross girders (approx 300 metric tonne) are expected to arrive India by September this year. 'The procurement of remaining steel is under process and is expected to be completed in the next three months after the arrival of the first consignment. It will be shipped to India as asymmetrical blocks and assembled to make a complete structure,' said the sources.
The proposed bridge is being constructed across Yamuna, 600 metres downstream from the existing barrage at Wazirabad. The main bridge is 675-m long and estimated to be around Rs 631.81 crores. The pylon would be 154 metres in height and would be taller than Qutub Minar.
At around Rs 1,131 crore, the project, which includes two phases – approaches and the main bridge – was announced in 2004 by the Delhi government.
The work is being executed by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation Limited (DTTDC) on behalf of the Delhi government. The scheme was approved by the technical committee of Delhi Development Authority way back in May 2006.
After that, it took two years, for the Yamuna Committee to approve the scheme.
Earlier, the officials claimed that entire project was expected to be completed by December 2013.
However, on conditions of anonymity, a senior official from department said, 'It is impossible to complete the project by next year. There a lot of work still left to be done.'
The work on the approaches was started in June 2008, which was awarded an amount of Rs 348.90 crore. The approaches would be multi-level grade separators with loops, ramps and rotaries. On the Western approach, the flyover would be constructed along the Outer Ring Road. Loop and ramps would be constructed to connect main bridge with Outer Ring Road. Only the foundation and piers of main flyover on Outer Ring Road (western approaches) have been completed.
While the right carriageway of the main flyover has been completed and has been opened to traffic, only two spans of the left carriageway need to be put in place for it to be completed.
According to officials, the approaches, to give the project a unique design, would have rib-shaped pre-cast segmental integral structures. The concrete ramps have also been given a bamboo finish.
'The problem is that there are too many experts who are heading this project. We are taking help from six countries to make this cable-strength bridge, which will be the second in India. There is also communication gap as we need to coordinate with Germans and Chinese,' said the senior official.
The Eastern approaches are being constructed near Bhajanpura. It comprises of a 1.8-km-long embankment to connect the main bridge with Marginal Bund Road at Khajuri Khas intersection.
'A flyover would also be constructed comprising of ground-level rotaries at Khajuri Khas intersection. The flyover would end near Wazirabad and would help decongest the intersection,' said an engineer from DTTDC.
On Eastern approaches, 19 out of 24 wells and 18 piers out of 28 piers have been completed. Three spans out of 22 spans of the flyover at Khajuri Khas intersection have also been completed.
Sources also said that the project was initiated with a plan of making this a landmark bridge and the surrounding areas were to be developed as tourist destinations.
Adjoining the signature bridge, a water body would be created for water sports and an elevator would also be installed at the main bridge for visitors to see the entire city from 135 meter above the ground-level.
Clearance was also another hurdle, which the department is facing to complete the project. According to officials, the forest clearance – to clear forest – was given only in January this year. While the trees could only be cut a few months ago, the work on the main bridge began in March 2010.
In the bridge, the foundation work of all 18 well foundations are currently in progress. The main bridge is a bow-shaped, cable-stay structure. The main deck of the bridge would be supported by cables, which in turn would be connected to a central pylon. The fabrication of pylon, which is made of high-grade steel and main girders are being manufactured in China. The embedded bearing plates have already been fabricated and been shipped from Shanghai to Mumbai.
But sources also revealed that the first consignment of fabricated materials of pylon base, cross tie, main girders and cross girders (approx 300 metric tonne) are expected to arrive India by September this year. 'The procurement of remaining steel is under process and is expected to be completed in the next three months after the arrival of the first consignment. It will be shipped to India as asymmetrical blocks and assembled to make a complete structure,' said the sources.
The proposed bridge is being constructed across Yamuna, 600 metres downstream from the existing barrage at Wazirabad. The main bridge is 675-m long and estimated to be around Rs 631.81 crores. The pylon would be 154 metres in height and would be taller than Qutub Minar.
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