The Hindu : L-G's objections of no consequence: Dikshit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 20, 2002

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L-G's objections of no consequence: Dikshit

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI OCT. 19. Asserting that the controversial Lajpat Nagar-Srinivaspuri flyover, the third longest in Delhi, would be constructed as per original plans and no structural or financial changes would be made, the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today said she had found nothing wrong with the design and concept of the project in view of the objections raised by the Lieutenant-Governor, Vijai Kapoor.

Laying the foundation stone of the much-debated 1.18-km-long flyover at Lajpat Nagar this morning, Ms. Dikshit said she had gone into the objections raised by Mr. Kapoor and found them to be of no consequence. Everything has been done to perfection and all the required clearances had been obtained from the authorities concerned. In fact, in a major achievement, all the services have already been shifted before the commencement of the project work, which would reduce the completion period substantially. "I will reply to the objections raised by Raj Nivas and provide them with satisfactory answers to their queries with regard to the entire project,'' she remarked.

Stating that developmental projects had often been delayed due to some reason or the other, Ms. Dikshit said it was the lack of powers vested in the Delhi Government that hampered smooth implementation. She complimented the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation for having got the cost of the flyover reduced from Rs. 62 crores to Rs. 55 crores and also for incorporating the penalty and bonus clause in the contract.

Doubts had arisen over the implementation of the project in its original shape after the Lieutenant-Governor had again written to the Chief Minister raising objections over the manner in which the project was being implemented. Ms. Dikshit informed that the flyover would have provision for four U-turn points which would deal with the issue of traffic congestion. It was expected that one lane of the flyover would be opened for traffic by September next year. She informed that DTTDC was also constructing an underpass at Madhuban Chowk in Rohini, which would be completed within a year.

Ms. Dikshit said the latest technology would be used by the private contractors -- Gammon India Limited -- for constructing this project, which would result in least dislocation of traffic. Speaking on the occasion, the Delhi's Transport Minister, Ajay Maken, said the Delhi Government generated revenue from its own resources and was spending its own money on construction of flyovers. He said the subject fell under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Government and any nod from Raj Nivas was not mandatory. Further, he informed that agencies like the Technical Committee of Delhi Development Authority, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Traffic police, Delhi Urban Arts Commission and even the Advisory Committee of the Lieutenant-Governor had given the go ahead for the flyover and there was no reason for changing the design just to satisfy somebody's personal ego.

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