The Delhi Cabinet today approved a project to construct an elevated road over Barapullah Nullah connecting Sarai Kale Khan to JLN Stadium worth Rs 500 crore in order to facilitate movement of athletes during the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Describing the project as an important infrastructure conceived after the tunnel project suffered a setback from conservationists, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the project would be completed within the next 18 months.
Talking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Dikshit said the 3.7 km long elevated road with six lanes aims to provide free flow of traffic and save valuable time of commuters travelling from the eastern side of the city to central and south Delhi.
"It would also ease traffic congestion on Ring Road at Ashram, Mathura Road and arterial roads in the city. Increase in average travel speed will reduce fuel consumption, pollution, loss of man-hours and road maintenance costs. The road would serve as a dedicated corridor for movement of sportspersons during the Games," Dikshit said.
To ensure time bound completion of the project and recovery of penalties in case of default from contractors, the government has kept aside ten per cent of the project money (Rs 44 crore) as security.
Initially, the government had plans to construct a tunnel near Humayun's Tomb to connect East Delhi to JLN Stadium in South Delhi for Rs 568 crore. These were shelved following objections from various quarters.
