New Delhi

Bridge delay discussed in Assembly

NEW DELHI: Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan admitted in the Delhi Assembly on Friday that laying the foundation stone of the Signature Bridge over the Yamuna in February this year was a mistake and that certain officials responsible for delay in the project due to a change in its cost would be identified and punished.

Speaking during Question Hour, Mr. Chauhan said while the tenders for the bridge had been floated, the project could not be taken ahead as the cost had increased significantly due to increase in price of cement and steel. He said fresh tender would be floated and work on the bridge, now estimated to cost Rs.887.29 crore, is expected to start in 2008-09 and would be completed in 2011-12.

The opposition BJP criticised the Delhi Government for the manner in which the project has been approached thus far. Party Chief Whip Sahib Singh Chauhan even questioned why the bridge had not been named after some well known personality and had instead been christened “Signature”. This prompted Leader of the Opposition Jagdish Mukhi -- who has been very critical of the Government’s liquor policy -- that probably the name had been derived from some liquor brand.

At this, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit got up and countered that it was commonplace the world over to give such names as “signature” or “icon” to landmark projects.

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