4 years late and headed nowhere

NEW DELHI: PK Sansanwal took early retirement from the army and built a three-storey house in Bijwasan with his savings. But soon, a bulldozer came and reduced it to rubble. Sansanwal was informed that the ground was cleared to build a flyover for the village’s inhabitants.
Eight months later, the flyover hasn’t materialized. Only broad concrete piers stand in an ugly row.Villagers wonder what purpose the completed structure will serve with a green belt blocking its one end.
“The corporation is building a flyover that will end in the middle of the village. Anyone here can tell that it is not right, but decision makers working out of air-conditioned rooms do such mindless planning and waste public money,” said Vinay Tiwari, whose business has been affected by the flyover work.
The Bijwasan flyover, some 2km away from Kapashera border, was conceived in 2008 and would have cost Rs 44 crore. But work did not start until February 2010, and the cost has risen to Rs 70 crore due to the delay.
While the village that has around 200 families suffers due to the ongoing work, the corporation seems in no mood to speed up work. The March 2012 deadline has been deferred to March 2013, but officials say even this seems optimistic.
Local leaders say an underpass would have sufficed to ease traffic at the site. “Instead of a flyover, an underpass could have served the purpose without disturbing the village. The issue has been raised several times in the corporation to no avail,” said area councillor Praveen Rana.
The residents say closure of the road for flyover work has made commuting difficult as they have to travel an extra 8-10 km to go across. “No alternative route has been provided. Last week, a resident died, and to visit the crematorium just across the railway crossing, the family had to take a roundabout route, first travelling towards Gurgaon,” said Colonel Devender Shehrawat, a resident.
Villagers whose houses were razed eight months ago claim that for the last two years work has been done at a snail’s pace. They are also upset as no provision has been made for relocation of affected villagers. Explaining the delay, corporation officials say since Bijwasan lies on lal dora land, they had to acquire the land and carry out the demolition. “Land acquisition took a long time. Since it’s lal dora land, no provision was made for rehabilitation of residents. Notices were sent to them in advance and some even demolished the houses on their own,” said an official.