New Delhi: Delhi govt on Monday approved two major road infrastructure projects aimed at easing congestion and improving connectivity across the capital, while also clearing a proposal for free bus travel for transgender persons and announcing the schedule for the upcoming budget session of the assembly. Among the key decisions taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Rekha Gupta at Delhi Secretariat was the approval of Barapullah Phase-III elevated corridor project at a revised cost of Rs 1,635 crore. By connecting Mayur Vihar to Sarai Kale Khan, it will extend the existing Barapullah corridor and provide signal-free connectivity between Mayur Vihar in east Delhi and south Delhi’s AIIMS, reducing travel time for lakhs of commuters. Set to be completed by this June 30, it is expected to ease congestion around Sarai Kale Khan, Ring Road, DND Flyway and National Highway-24, Gupta said.The cabinet also approved another major infrastructure project — a six-lane elevated corridor along Mehrauli-Badarpur Road with multiple underpasses. Estimated to cost Rs 1,471 crore, it will stretch from Saket G-Block to Pul Prahladpur and will be executed by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.The project will be implemented in two phases. In the first, a double-decker integrated structure will be built between Saket and Sangam Vihar. This will include a six-lane elevated flyover, a six-lane underpass at Saket G-Block, an elevated ramp connecting the BRT corridor to the flyover and a two-lane underpass linking MB Road with the corridor.In the second phase, a nearly 2.5-kilometre-long six-lane elevated flyover will be constructed from Maa Anandmayee Marg to Pul Prahladpur. It will run above the Delhi metro line.Officials said the project is expected to ease congestion on MB Road, which is one of the busiest corridors in south Delhi. Once completed, traffic movement between Saket, Ambedkar Nagar, Khanpur, Sangam Vihar and Pul Prahladpur is expected to become smoother, resulting in the reduction of travel time.The cabinet also directed Public Works Department (PWD) to finalise the alignment of the remaining stretches of MB Road, including the sections from Sangam Vihar to Maa Anandmayee Marg and from Pul Prahladpur to Badarpur. Once this is done, the entire corridor from Saket G-Block to Badarpur is expected to see a smoother traffic flow.Govt said these road projects are part of its effort to build a modern and seamless infrastructure in the capital and to make commuting faster and more efficient for Delhiites.Free bus ride for transgenders The cabinet also approved a proposal to extend its free bus travel scheme to transgender persons. Only residents of Delhi will be able to travel free of cost on buses operated by Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses run by the transport department. It will be implemented on the same pattern and mechanism as the existing free scheme available to women passengers on Delhi buses.Budget on March 24 The cabinet also decided that the budget session of Delhi assembly will be held from March 23 to March 25. The economic survey will be tabled in the House on March 23 and the budget will be presented on March 24.
