The long-delayed elevated corridor connects Mayur Vihar Phase-I with Sarai Kale Khan and is expected to improve connectivity between East and South DelhiNew Delhi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the long-awaited Barapullah Phase-III elevated corridor in Delhi on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister Harsh Malhotra, PWD Minister Parvesh Verma and other dignitaries. The project is expected to provide a signal-free link between Mayur Vihar Phase-I in East Delhi and Sarai Kale Khan, improving connectivity towards AIIMS and South Delhi.The project was approved in 2014 and construction began in 2015. It was originally scheduled for completion in 2017 but faced repeated delays. The revised project cost has been approved at around ₹1,635 crore.Parvesh Verma Accuses Previous Government of Delaying ProjectSpeaking at the inauguration, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma criticised the previous Aam Aadmi Party government over the prolonged delay in completing the project.Verma said that after the present government took office, he visited the site within days and reviewed the status of the work. He claimed that the project had been under construction for around 11 years and that several pending permissions and clearances were subsequently addressed.According to Verma, engineers told him that it was the first time in years that a Delhi government minister or senior official had inspected the project site. He said that after identifying the pending issues and completing the required approvals, work could finally move towards completion.Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Praises OfficialsChief Minister Rekha Gupta congratulated PWD Minister Parvesh Verma and government officials involved in completing the project. She said officials made repeated visits to the site and coordinated with various departments to obtain the necessary permissions.The Delhi government also highlighted infrastructure projects worth ₹1,941 crore being inaugurated or having their foundation stones laid during the programme.Harsh Malhotra Also Attacks Former Kejriwal GovernmentDelhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra also criticised the previous government over the delay in the Barapullah project. He attributed the prolonged delay to the functioning of the then Kejriwal government and its ministers and legislators.Malhotra said the project had been pending for years and argued that the current governments at the Centre and in Delhi were focusing on infrastructure development.What the Barapullah Phase-III Project OffersThe corridor provides a signal-free connection between Mayur Vihar Phase-I and Sarai Kale Khan and links with the existing Barapullah corridor. Together, the corridor network extends for around 9 km. The Phase-III project also includes dedicated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.The project faced multiple delays related to land, clearances, construction challenges and other administrative issues. Its revised cost rose from the originally sanctioned amount of about ₹1,260.63 crore to approximately ₹1,635 crore.The opening is expected to provide an alternative route for commuters travelling between East Delhi, South Delhi and areas connected to Noida, while reducing pressure on some of the city's major traffic bottlenecks.
