Ministers inspect Signature Bridge

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) Delhi Urban Development and Public Works Department Minister A K Walia and Education Minister A S Lovely today inspected the site for Signature Bridge over Yamuna in North East Delhi and Mehrauli Archaeological Park near the World Heritage monument of Qutub Minar in South Delhi.

Dr Walia directed the Delhi Travel and Tourism Development Corp to develop the 200 acre area as an attractive recreation centre which would include vast greens, facilities for water sports activities, walkways and theme gardens, and an entire complex would come up as one of the most exciting tourist spot in North/East Delhi.

Dr Walia said the entire area would be developed with an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore within a period of three years simultaneously during construction of the world class Signature Bridge on Yamuna which would 'stand' on hanging cables with pylon. A restaurant would also be constructed above it.

The Signature Bridge project would cost Rs 465 crore and actual construction would commence after a month.

Dr Walia further instructed DTTDC to initiate immediate action for development of modern recreation centre by appointing consultants and other executing staff.

The centre would have a modern collapsible rubber weir on the river to facilitate recreational sports activities to attract tourists across Delhi and outside in large number. It would also have ample space for social and community activities.

Dr Walia was accompanied by DTTDC CMD Sanat Kaul, PWD Chief Engineer and senior officials from the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Revenue Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Development Authority.

The ministers along with Mr O P Jain from NGO INTACH took a round of Mehrauli Archaeological Park where conservation of 80 monuments and historic remains belonging to various era of Delhi's history from the early settlements to the more recent British times was being undertaken by INTACH in collaboration with government agencies like DDA, Delhi Tourism and Archaeological Survey of India.

The conservation was being done in phases. Six phases had already covered 41 monuments, while the seventh and the last one would cover the remaining monuments. The entire exercise would cost Rs 1.50 crore.

Dr Walia instructed concerned agencies to expedite conservation exercise to develop the entire complex as one of the shining chapters of the Qutub World Heritage site.

He expressed confidence that the entire complex would provide an excellent opportunity to visitors to learn about past glory of historical city of Delhi and enable them to enjoy heritage walk in the area.

UNI IP LS HT1845