More bridges over Yamuna in the offing

Delhi government has decided to construct few more bridges over Yamuna to connect central, South and North Delhi with East Delhi, a step it feels would help ensure faster mobility and serve as a boon it times of calamity.

The Public Works Department (PWD) has been asked to draft a preliminary plan on how many more bridges Delhi needs and study its feasibility. AAP-government will seek by Provider"> financial help from Central government to make these bridges over Yamuna.

According to senior official, the decision was made during a Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting held this week in which the State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP) and District Disaster Management Plan to deal with any calamity in the national capital were approved.

During the meeting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal sought more bridges on Yamuna to ensure faster mobility.

According to a senior official, Delhi will need financial help from the Central Government to achieve this.

"Delhi government has an assessment that we need more bridges on Yamuna. Delhi has lot of population living on both sides separated by Yamuna and bridges will increase their mobility. In case of calamity it will be of great use if a particular area of the city is affected. 

"We need more resources for this and we are looking at the Central government. Some of the support that Delhi government will need for enhancing safety will be done with the support of Central government," KK Sharma, Chief Secretary said.

As per officials, PWD department has started making plans for constructing two-three bridges over Yamuna.

According to officials at present, there are just eight bridges over the Yamuna against the city's requirement of more than 20 bridges.

The existing bridges include Signature Bridge, Old Bridge, DND flyway and those at Wazriabad, Geeta Colony, ITO, Nizamuddin and Kalindi Kunj.

Two more bridges -- one parallel to the Okhla Barrage and Barapullah elevated road are under construction. 

Officials said that only one of these bridges at Wazirabad connects northeast Delhi with the rest of the city.

The construction of the ambitious Signature bridge, which would be an alternate to the ageing and narrow Wazirabad bridge, is in full swing and is likely to be completed by March 2016. 

In comparison with international cities, Delhi lack behind in terms of number of bridges built over rivers. Many European countries have over 30 bridges while developed south Asian countries have constructed over a dozen bridges to connect different part of the cities.

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES