Delhi gets Signature Bridge, after fracas at site

New Delhi: After missing many deadlines, the iconic and much-awaited Signature Bridge on the Yamuna was inaugurated on Sunday by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and will open for the public from today.

The opening came after a clash between BJP and AAP workers at the site, with BJP Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari, also an MP, punching a policeman during the fracas before order was restored. Claimed by the government to be the country’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge, with the gesture ‘namaste’, the bridge will help people to enjoy a panoramic view of the city from 154-meter high observation deck — to be open in around two months. “Some final work is left in the high observation deck and it will be opened earlier next year, while the roads will open from Monday,” an official told IANS.

The 575-meter-long suspension bridge, proposed in 2004 and approved by the Delhi cabinet in 2007, will reduce the travel time between North and North-East Delhi. The bridge, connecting Wazirabad across the river Yamuna, will take vehicular pressure off the existing Wazirabad bridge. It will also connect the Outer Ring Road on the western bank of the river with Wazirabad road on the eastern side.

“Don’t get into the politics of those building temples, else your son will become a priest and not an engineer. Before voting to ask the parties how many schools, hospitals or bridges they built. If they fail to count, tell them they can’t get your vote. “Delhi was famous for India Gate and Qutub Minar but will now be known for this bridge. The bridge got its first pylon after we came to power. The work was done before that was only 10-15 percent,” he said. The inauguration was followed by a laser show. The Twitter page of the bridge was also started. (IANS)

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