Sarita Vihar underpass to be ready by March 2014
The Sarita Vihar underpass project, which was scheduled to be ready by the end of 2010, has been repeatedly missing deadlines. It has missed two deadlines in the ongoing year too; once in August and then in September as well. Now, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the Northern Railways have claimed that the project will be completed by March 2014.
A portion of the project site is under the jurisdiction of the Railways, due to which, Northern Railways is also associated with the construction of the project.
The underpass crosses the busy Delhi-Mumbai rail route which is being used by 300 trains in a day. It is proposed that even cyclists and pedestrians would be able to use the underpass.
Delayed for over five years
The project was planned in 2008, but actual work started only from September 2009. Since then, its design was changed many times.
Both the authorities have been playing the blame game on each other for the delayed project completion. The DDA blames Northern Railways for the prolonged delay in completion of the underpass project while the latter alleges that the DDA is solely responsible for not completing the work of connecting the underpass to the main road. Railway officials have admitted that they are running way behind the schedule on the job and have said that the project will be completed in six months.
Cuts distance, saves time
At present, one has to take 9 km-route to reach Okhla Industrial Area from Kalindi Kunj. The 1.2 km-long underpass, once ready, would reduce the distance by 8 km. Now it has been taking half an hour to commute between these places while the underpass will cut it down to less than 10 minutes.
It will be very useful to regular commuters like those working in Okhla industrial area and live around Kalindi Kunj. Apart from saving travel time, the underpass will also save fuel.
Project cost
The project cost was initially estimated to sum up to around Rs 127 crore. However, the cost as of now, has increased to more than double (over 263 crore) of the estimated cost.
Present status
Currently, the construction work below the railway tracks is going on without disrupting the rail traffic. But still, the commuters in this route have been facing some issues including slowing traffic and chaos.
The DDA has been using top-down technology for construction of the project to ensure minimal traffic disruption.
DDA official sources said that the underpass construction work is facing certain challenges as railway tracks are lying above it and metro pillars are also in vicinity. Once the railway authority finishes its job, the DDA would look into joining the underpass to the main road, they added. The presence of sewer and utility lines along the route also added to the delay.
The underpass will not only give easy access to Okhla, but also to Ashram, New Friends Colony, Kailash, Lajpat Nagar and surrounding areas. Similarly the underpass gives easy connectivity to Sarita Vihar, Madanpur Khadar, Sector 94, Sector 124, etc. It is likely to decongest traffic on Mathura Road and Modi Mill flyover.
