The flyover constructed from Anand Vihar to Apsara border in Delhi is not operational.
Trees are very important for human survival, but sometimes even important plans get stuck due to these trees. Something similar has also been seen in Delhi. While the flyover is ready at a cost of 372 crores, it is not being commissioned due to trees in the middle of the road. A 1.4 km long 6-lane flyover has been constructed between Anand Vihar and Apsara border to provide relief to the people in East Delhi’s Anand Vihar area. More than 95% of the flyover has been completed but still the flyover has not been opened to the general public. There are several different types of obstacles arising in this.
It is not that the reason behind the non-functionality of the flyover is the incomplete construction, rather these trees standing in the middle of the flyover are obstructing the functioning of the flyover. Many trees stand tall in the middle of the 6-lane flyover between Anand Vihar and Apsara Border at a cost of Rs 372 crore. This flyover is constructed by PWD. The PWD had provided funds for the flyover but could not get permission from the forest department to remove the intervening trees and transplant them elsewhere. This is the reason why the almost completed flyover is not being inaugurated.
Work is going on since 2019
The need and discussion to build this flyover in the Delhi government started in 2019. Meanwhile, the lockdown was enforced due to Corona. However, the Finance Department of the Government of Delhi, in a meeting held on 10 May 2022, approved a Rs 372 crore scheme for the construction of this flyover. In the same year in October 2022, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal laid the foundation stone of the bridge. It was decided at that time that the flyover would be completed and opened to the general public by December 2023. But in the meantime, road number 56 of Anand Vihar was declared a deemed forest by the central government. Because of this, the forest department also fined the PWD for some trees removed for the flyover. Work can resume only after paying the fine. Due to which the deadline for the flyover was extended to April 2024.
The forest department is creating obstacles
According to information, forest department and PWD department are facing hurdles in completing the flyover work. Permission has been sought to remove 75 trees from here and transplant elsewhere but it has not been received yet. Due to which the opening time of flyover is getting extended.
The Delhi government claims that the opening of this flyover will benefit lakhs of people traveling to Delhi from Ghaziabad, Noida, Shahdara and Dilshad Garden. Removing 3 red light signals will not only relieve people from lengthy checks but also save their money and time. The government claims that the pollution caused by hour-long traffic jams will also be reduced. But all these claims are currently limited to papers only.
