Too near, yet too far: Delhi infra projects get push; but stuck near finish line

NEW DELHI: Several projects initiated by Delhi govt, critically important for public transport, healthcare, and urban mobility, are close to completion - but are paused at the finishing line.

These projects, many of them 70-90% complete, are awaiting administrative approvals, budget sanctions or clearances from relevant departments.

Among them are the DTC bus depot in Sawda Ghevra, flyover at Nand Nagri and Gagan Cinema, the final underpass of the Pragati Maidan transit corridor, Barapullah Phase III elevated roadway and 11 hospitals. Begun by the previous govts, they have faced delays in their completion but are now being expedited by the new govt, according to officials.

"We have finished work at our end on these projects. PWD minister Pravesh Verma is getting green clearances for them or coordinating with central agencies.

It is now up to other agencies whose clearances are awaited to take the final call," a govt official claimed.

The DTC bus depot in Sawda Ghevra is crucial for bolstering public transport. Launched in April 2023 by the AAP govt and scheduled for completion by Dec that same year, the depot is 85% finished.

Officials said that the project awaited administrative approval and expenditure sanction from the transport department for the final push. The target date has been extended to Dec.The flyover at Nand Nagri and Gagan Cinema junction - integral for easing congestion there - was supposed to have been opened for public use by July last year. According to documents accessed by TOI, 90% of the work is finished, but officials insisted the project was completed and will be inaugurated within a month.

One of them said that permissions for tree cutting and transplanting were pending, and these have been sought.

He said the minister got the project expedited so that the flyover could be opened to coincide with the Prime Minister's birthday in Sept.Another long-pending project is the underpass No. 5 among the six in the Pragati Maidan transit corridor. The project was to have been finished by 2022, but till date 98% of the work and there are some unresolved issues with Northern Railways pending even though approvals of the Union housing and urban affairs ministry have been secured.Officials said that a detailed proposal to restart work was sent to the ministry last month by Verma, which gave its nod for "immediate grouting under the box structures to stabilise the soil and prevent further settlement". Plans are ready for resuming work, but since this requires train movement to be stopped temporarily, PWD and Northern Railway are working out a schedule so as to minimise any financial losses for the railways during this period.Of the 11 greenfield hospital projects meant to boost Delhi's public health infrastructure, several are in advanced stages but are stalled. Among them are those at Jwalapuri (90% finished), Madipur (82%) and Siraspur (78%). Yet there are no signs of swift completion. In the ICU hospital category, projects at Shalimar Bagh (63%), Sultanpuri (63%) and Sarita Vihar (58%) are similarly caught in bureaucratic inertia.

The Kirari hospital, despite its construction being announced alongside the others, is yet even to break ground.Officials claimed that these projects were delayed by the previous govt and have seen severe cost escalation. "Now, either fresh budgets have to be sanctioned or these need to be finished on the public-private partnership model," the official said.The Barapullah Phase III elevated corridor too is over 90% complete but has come to standstill after persistent setbacks since construction began in 2015.

There still are 690 metres to be built between Sarai Kale Khan and Mayur Vihar. Initially estimated at Rs 964 crore, the project's cost has now escalated to Rs 1,330 crore.A recent PWD meeting was informed that the forest department had forwarded the application for permission to fell trees to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) under the Supreme Court. CEC had directed the site concerned to be re-surveyed in the presence of officials from the forest department and details such as the trees' geo-locations, species and girth at breast height to be submitted.An official said, "We will get the CEC clearance soon. This is one project that remained stuck throughout the tenure of the previous govt. We have been following it up and submitted all required documentation."