August 17, 2018:

It was supposed to be inaugurated for Commonwealth Games, 2010.

On Friday, Delhi HC was informed that the long-delayed Signature Bridge across the Yamuna would be completed by October after which trial will be conducted.

HC Bench comprising of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao asked the authorities to file a status report while fixing the matter for November 14.

HC Bench stated that,"List the matter in second week of November to enable the respondents (authorities) to complete the project and do the trial and file a report".

High Court was informed by Counsel for Public Works Department (PWD) that the project will be completed by October and trial run will be conducted thereafter.

Delhi HC had earlier frowned upon two city government departments for "quibbling over" the amount to be paid for the construction of the "long overdue" Signature Bridge.

High Court was hearing a PIL filed by Advocate Pratibha Chopra, who pointed to the inordinate delay in project and alleged that the construction of the bridge had missed several deadlines since 2011.

Announced in 2004, the project received a nod from the Delhi Cabinet in 2007 and was initially expected to be completed at a modified estimate of Rs 1,131 crore by the Commonwealth Games held here in October, 2010.

In 2015, the cost of the project rose to Rs 1,594 crore. Reportedly, the bridge was proposed for the first time as early as in 1997 at an initial cost pegged at Rs 464 crores.

Signature Bridge, when completed, is expected to share the burden of vehicular traffic which is being borne by the Wazirabad bridge, which itself, according to the PWD, requires "structural rehabilitation and strengthening".

Source PTI

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