Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday inaugurated the 2.85 km-long RTR (Rao Tula Ram) flyover on Outer Ring Road here at a function organised by the Public Works Department (PWD). The function was presided over by PWD minister Satyendar Jain.
The elevated corridor of the RTR flyover has been built at a cost of Rs 205 crore, which would help decongest the area and benefit especially those commuting towards the IGI airport or Gurgaon from South Delhi and Noida.
Speaking on the occasion, Kejriwal reportedly said, “In 15 years, the Sheila Dikshit government built 70 flyovers. In the last four-and-a-half years, our (AAP) government has built 23 flyovers,” adding that “We do our work, but we don’t advertise much. Now, it is for the people to spread word about the work we have done in the last four-and-a-half years.”
The AAP leader also said that a few more such projects will come up in Delhi before the end of his government’s tenure early next year.
“We will make Delhi the best city in the world,” Kejriwal said, claiming that the AAP government has ensured all-round development of the city.
“It is a day of happiness for the people of Delhi as the Rao Tula Ram flyover is now open to all. It will ease connectivity for people who travel to IGI Airport or Gurgaon from South Delhi. The use of the flyover will lead to not only saving of time and energy in travel, but also reducing air pollution that was caused due to congestion,” the CM said.
Hitting out at the Opposition, Kejriwal said, “I accept that we have worked a lot, but we don’t know how to do politics. This is something we failed to learn. Recently we completed the Signature Bridge in North-east Delhi. While the inauguration of the Signature Bridge was taking place, a leader from the Opposition party was busy hurling bottles on the stage, where we were seated.”
Kejriwal also charged, “He (that Opposition leader) was not satisfied with this only; he claimed that he got the Signature Bridge made. They have not been in power in Delhi for the last 20-years in Delhi; still they make such blatant false claims. We don’t know how to do such dirty politics.”
Congratulating the team of engineers who completed the construction of this flyover on such a busy and narrow road without interrupting traffic flow, Jain said, “One cannot imagine the difficulties faced by the PWD engineers and workers while completing this project. The space available to work was just 6-7 metres and only a 6-hour window was there during the night time to carry on the construction work.”
A government official said the length of the elevated corridor was 9 mt wide and 2.85-km long which also included a ramp of about 340 mt. This three-lane elevated corridor is the first of its kind in Delhi, which is constructed fully on portals to allow the movement of traffic below the elevated corridor, the official added.