The much-delayed Benito Juarez Marg underpass will be open to the public from next month, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said after inspecting and reviewing work on the stretch near South Campus.
Currently, commuters traveling to and from Gurugram and the airport must take the Dhaula Kuan road to reach AIIMS and Central Delhi. Once the underpass is ready, those commuters can take Outer Ring Road through the underpass to reach AIIMS and Moti Bagh, officials said.
In addition, the Public Works Department (PWD) is also constructing a 670-meter-long walkway that connects the South Campus areas, residential settlements and colleges located on the other side near Babu Dham such as JMC and Maitreyi College. The footbridge and pedestrian bridge (FOB) will have four elevators with a total capacity of 24 people and two escalators for the physically handicapped and the elderly.
Sisodia, which also owns the PWD portfolio, reviewed other ongoing road development works in Central and New Delhi areas.
After inspecting the Benito Juarez Marg underpass, he also ordered officials to speed up construction work and complete it by May for public movement. It also approved a Rs 2.5 crore project to install lifts and escalators on the FOB and the footbridge being constructed at BJ Marg for pedestrian safety.
The 1.8 km long underpass was planned as part of the PWD Corridor Improvement Plan. The project was designed in 2013 and the actual civil works started in 2016. It is one of the most delayed projects and has missed several deadlines for reasons related to customs clearance issues, approvals departmental, Covid lockdown, prohibition of construction activities and others.
Previously, the project was due to be completed in January, but was delayed due to the construction ban and the sudden outbreak of the third wave of the Covid pandemic and restrictions, PWD officials said.
When completed, the 1.8 km long underpass is expected to relieve almost 2.5 lakh of commuters and get to the airport and Gurugram will become smooth and traffic-free.
The underpass will start from the Durga Bai Deshmukh South Campus metro station and split into two wings in a “Y” shape. Traffic jams in Dhaula Kuan will also be relieved.
In addition, Sisodia has approved project works worth Rs 24 crore including redevelopment of Rajpura Road towards Tis Hazari Red Light to Civil Line Police Station, Wazirabad Ring Road Outer Ring Road at Gandhi Vihar Metro and Gandhi Vihar Outer Ring Road to Burari Flyover. It also approved the Rs 1.26 crore project works for Shakti Nagar Pump substation upgrade.
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