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Fearing revenue loss, DND opposes new bridge over Yamuna

Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd asks Lt Governor to consider direct link to flyway instead of building a bridge.

Fearing loss of revenue, the DND flyway operator has opposed construction of a new bridge over the Yamuna as part of Barapullah Phase-III. DND officials have approached the Lieutenant Governor to consider a direct link between Phase-III and the flyway.

Quote: Noida Toll Bridge Company Ltd

Earlier, construction of a new bridge had been proposed to connect Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with Mayur Vihar Phase-I.

The Lt Governor?s office said the issue is ?under consideration as public interest needs to be seen??.

The DND flyway operator had signed a tripartite agreement in 1998 with the Delhi and UP governments which underlined that no bridge could be built between Okhla Barrage and Nizamuddin for 10 years or until ?full-rated capacity? during peak hour, whichever is later, had been achieved on the flyway. This matter was also brought up at the meeting with the Lt Governor.

Under the agreement, the two governments cannot propose, recommend, implement or permit to implement any toll-free bridge or other service network, including tunnels, across the Yamuna for 10 years. And as per a letter dated January 14, 1997, the Delhi government can build such a bridge only when the DND flyway has achieved 60 per cent of the full-rated capacity (9,600 passenger car units) on a daily basis for a consecutive period of 180 days.

DND officials claimed that neither scenario exists as of today.

?We approached the Lt Governor and highlighted the fact that there is no need for construction of the bridge as the government can directly connect the elevated road to our flyway. We have been told that this matter is being considered,?? a DND spokesperson said.

The proposal to construct the Phase-III extension has already got clearance from the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning and Engineering) Centre. The Public Works Department maintains that it is not going to make alterations to the approved alignment. This phase will connect INA Market with Mayur Vihar through a new Yamuna bridge proposed at a site between the DND and Nizamuddin Bridge.

PWD officials said that as per the Lt Governor?s directions, they have already clarified the matter with officials from the DND flyway.

?The Barapullah Phase-III alignment has been approved by UTTIPEC. We are already providing connectivity of Barapullah elevated road in Phase-II and there will be no change to the alignment in Phase-III. In Phase-II, one of the loops will provide direct connectivity to the flyway through Ashram,?? a PWD official said.

The existing Barapullah elevated road starts from Sarai Kale Khan and goes up to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Under Phase-II, it will be extended until INA Market.

?The alignment of Phase-III will be similar to that of the Old Pontoon Bridge. The proposal for construction of this bridge has got in-principle approval from the Yamuna standing committee. A detailed model is now being prepared for submission to the Delhi Urban Art Commission. A model will also be sent to the Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune,?? the official said.

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First published on: 23-10-2013 at 18:33 IST
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