Projects Meant To Decongest Delhi Running Way Behind Schedule

In the recent past, Delhi has been on a frenzy to figure out ways that would help it decongest the city that sees mighty millions of people as well as cars as their base every year. The Centre did not fail to extend a helping hand. In September last year, Road and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the Central government would spend Rs 34,100 crore for the purpose of decongesting Delhi.

As a result of this overtime working, large-scale infrastructure projects have been launched to smooth traffic conditions. In the meantime, the construction work is only making the matters worse on Delhi roads.

A survey by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in July last year revealed that “non-peak” hours have somehow disappeared from Delhi roads. For a month, the CSE monitored 13 arterial roads for 12 hours, and the finding showed that the average morning and evening peak speeds were recorded at 28 kilometre per hour (kmph) and 25kmph while the off-peak speed remained restricted to 27kmph.

So, even if you left for your office at 6 am or 2 am, don’t depend on getting an easy ride – it would not be much different if you left at 9 am or 6 pm. Basically, you only get to enjoy only 60 per cent of the speed these arterials are built for – arterial roads facilitate inter-city and regional trips by connecting with highways and expressway networks.

More worrisome is the fact that most of these projects, meant to decongest the national capital, are running late, government data show.

While presenting the first status report on the Outcome Budget, Delhi Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on March 21 said that road projects meant to decongest arterials junctions were running way behind schedule. Of the 24 road projects, only 45 per cent have registered 70 per cent progress. Being implemented by the state’s Public Works Department, these projects saw only a little progress in the past three-four years.

Work is on to build an elevated road parallel to the Roa Tularam Marg Flyover. Only 36 per cent of the work on this elevated road has been completed so far that should have been completed two years ago. The new deadline for completion of the work is set at December this year now. Similarly, Phase-II and Phase-III of the Barapullah road projects have missed their respective deadlines of 2015 and 2017.

Apart from causing a ruckus on roads, the delayed projects are also resulting in major revenue loss for a government that sees regular protests from staff over delays in salaries. Officials say the Delhi government would lose Rs 200 crore an annum in case of further delay in these projects.