New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA Government at the Centre did all what they could do to delay the completion of iconic Signature Bridge project.
Mr Kejriwal said this during his address to people before he inaugurated the Signature Bridge on the river Yamuna at Wazirabad.
The Delhi Chief Minister alleged that the Delhi government officers, engineers, other officials and people involved in the Signature Bridge project were threatened in different ways by the BJP in a bid to delay the project.
Despite such hindrances and obstacles that the central government tried to create, the bridge was finally completed and was ready otherwise it would have taken at least five years more, Mr Kejriwal said.
Taking a dig at the BJP government over the 182 metre tall Sardar Patel's Statue of Unity, Mr Kejriwal said had the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru made such statues instead of IIT's, Steel Authority of India and alike institutions, 'we would not have been where we are today.'
Praising Nehru for his scientific approach, Mr Kejriwal said, ' It was the vision of Nehru Ji how the foundation of a nation is kept, keeping in mind the development of Science, Engineering and Technology that are the basis of real growth and development of any nation and its people.'
'Which ever party comes to ask for votes, ask them how many hospitals they have built, how many schools, how many bridges', Mr Kejriwal said during his address to people before he inaugurated the Signature Bridge. Modern India's foundation is kept by such institutions, organisations that develop science, technology and engineering, he said.
He said whenever he thinks of the bridge, it reminds him of Pandit Nehru, being a symbol of progress.
'Country was blessed to have Nehru as the first PM ', Mr Kejriwal said, adding that he kept the foundation of the country with important science , technology and engineering institutions.
'Whether we need good bridges or good statues, now was the time to decide,' the Delhi Chief Minister said.
All know Delhi for various places, including India Gate, Red Fort and other monuments , but now, people across the globe will also know Delhi because of the Signature Bridge, the Delhi Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
'I would like to congratulate the people of Delhi for the iconic bridge , Mr Kejriwal said.
Mr Sisodia during his address at the launch event accused the Union government of stalling the project through various tactics.
He also accused the PM and BJP for starting the tradition of not inviting other party's leaders or important people for inaugural functions, adding that now when the AAP government did the same then why the BJP leaders, especially BJP MP Manoj Tiwari were having problems.
Mr Sisodia, while elaborating on the project, said when the AAP government came into power, only 15 to 20 per cent of the work had been done with respect to the project of the Signature Bridge which was long pending and struggled amid tussles between government offices, agencies and lot of complexities.
'The first pylon of the bridge came up after 2015 , when the AAP government came to power ' Mr Sisodia said.
Earlier, to claim the credit of the 'Signature Bridge' before its inauguration in the National Capital, a scuffle broke out between the AAP and BJP workers as BJP MP Manoj Tiwari who reached the venue to witness the inaugural event, was allegedly stopped by AAP supporters and police.
Mr Tiwari , who reached the venue, accused the AAP government of taking undue credit of the completion of the bridge, saying that it was the efforts made by him and getting Rs 33 crore sanctioned for the project.
'We peacefully reached the venue and wanted to welcome the CM , who although is taking fake credit for the Bridge, but were stopped by the local police led by the DCP who is taking sided with Aam Aadmi Party', Mr Tiwari alleged.
The long awaited Signature Bridge will be a relief for people of North, North east, Central Delhi, particularly those using the Wazirabad bridge as it would reduce traffic snarls in this area.
To a query about reducing traffic stress on Delhi roads, Mr Sisodia had said that the bridge will make the situation better in the surrounding area but it cannot be called a one size fit all solution for Delhi Traffic.
There were a litany of technical and administrative hiccups that had to be dealt with in the project which was long awaited.
This will become an important tourist spot of the city in the times to come, and in the yet to be functional second phase of the project, people would have an option to be taken up via an elevator to a viewing spot with a glass up the pillar of the bridge from where there is an amazing view of the Capital.
The suspension bridge has the highest pylon in Asia, which is 154 meters, almost double the height of the Qutub Minar.
The bridge connects Outer Ring Road on the west of Yamuna with the Wazirabad Road on the east further improving connectivity for the Trans Yamuna bound areas towards Loni.
First asymmetrical cable stayed bridge in the country will open for public use on Monday morning.
The bridge was conceptualised around 14 years ago with its cost assessed at Rs 400 crore. But there were many factors that were not taken into consideration, which surfaced when the project work commenced.
The total project was completed at a cost of around Rs 1,500 crore, as per the Deputy Chief Minister.
Proposed in 2004 during Sheila Dikshit's regime, the bridge got the go ahead in 2007 as the Capital began gearing up for the Commonwealth Games.
It was supposed to be ready ahead of the CWG in 2010, but however delayed subsequently for three more years.
Deadlines were again revised with the installation of a new government in Delhi, and set in 2016, further pushed to 2017 and again in 2018 March.
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