Delhi wins case against Maya govt,to acquire 21 acres for key Games route: UP link road

In reply to the acquisition,the UP government filed a petition in the High Court,which was dismissed on Tuesday. The decision has given a fresh lease of life to the project as the work is slated to begin this week itself.

The development of the link road has been planned to decongest the prime junction near the Games Village. Under the project,two flyovers will be constructed and the existing six-lane road will be widened to eight lanes. While the first flyover with a single carriageway will cover the stretch at Mayur Vihar Phase-I traffic intersection,the second flyover with a dual carriageway will do away with two traffic intersections — one at Samachar Apartments and the other near DND toll road. There will be a cycle track and footpath on either side of the road.

The Rs 334-crore project is essential for the Commonwealth Games,according to the Delhi government.

The Public Works Department (PWD) plans to add two more lanes to the existing six-lane road and make it signal-free for smooth traffic flow. It needs,rather quickly,21 acres of land running along the western stretch of this four-kilometre corridor to construct it in time for the Games.

“The UP government was not ready to give up the land till Delhi returned the favour by handing over land close to Okhla. This land is technically under the UP Revenue department but has been earmarked by the Urban Development Ministry of the Centre for construction of a freight depot,” a senior Delhi government official said.

Despite several letters shot off to the UP chief secretary,the government refused to oblige. That was when the Delhi government revoked a special Act to acquire the land. The acquisition was to begin on Tuesday.

Following approval from the DUAC and the DDA Technical Committee in June 2008,the project was eventually finalised in February 2008 after being in the pipeline since 2006.

The project deadline is April 2010.