Hardeep Singh Puri accuses AAP govt of stalling project for 1 year

New Delhi: Ignoring the representatives from Delhi’s elected government, Union minister of state for housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday inaugurated the Skywalk at ITO.

Mr Puri also accused the Kejriwal government of stalling it for one year, and also creating hindrance in execution of several other projects including the Metro Phase-IV.

Mr Puri alleged that a “false narrative” was being created around these projects and some people who have nothing to do with the project were trying to take credit.

Constructed in steel structure by the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Delhi government, the Skywalk has been designed to ease pedestrian movement along Mathura Road, Tilak Marg, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Sikandra Road.

“The ITO Crossing and Point Junction are the two busiest crossings as far as pedestrian traffic is concerned. There are over 25 major offices and other institutions located in this area. Approximately 30,000 pedestrian cross various roads around (this area),” said an official statement from the ministry of housing and urban affairs.

A large network of public utilities has been constructed to connect all the sides of various roads — Tilak Marg, Sikandra Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg and Mathura Road — with Pragati Maidan Metro Station, it said.

“The Skywalk shall have six passenger lifts of 20 persons capacity and one lift of 16 person capacity. Solar PV modules, Wi-Fi, CCTV has been provided in Skywalk and FOB. The LED fittings for functional and architectural lighting have also been provided. The entire Skywalk has been covered under CCTV surveillance. A police booth has also been constructed under the Skywalk for constant surveillance in the area,” it added.

Delhi lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal, Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi and NDMC Chairman Naresh Kumar were among those present on the occasion.

However, the Delhi ministers or their representatives were not invited for the inauguration of the Skywalk, for which the city government claimed that it had paid 20 per cent of the total cost.

“In accordance with the 80-20 per cent funding agreement, Delhi government was to provide around Rs 12 crore fund for the project out of the total estimated cost of around Rs 54 crore,” the Delhi government said in a statement.

“No amount of tall claims and rhetoric will be able to mislead the people of Delhi, who will finally judge, whether cutting ribbons will be able a substitute for hard work,” the Delhi government added.