After a decade-long wait coupled with countless deadline misses, the iconic Signature Bridge in Delhi is now finally open for public. The 575-metre long bridge, dubbed as Delhi’s ‘Eiffel Tower’, has been built over the river Yamuna. The eight-lane carriageway connects north and northeast Delhi and will significantly reduce the travel time between the two regions. It will also connect the Outer Ring Road on the western bank of the Yamuna river with Wazirabad Road on the eastern side.
The bow-shaped steel pylon has a 154-metre-high glass viewing box which is double the height of Qutub Minar. There are four elevators with a total capacity of carrying 50 people. The iconic bridge also has designated selfie spots. Built at a cost of Rs 1,594 crore, the Signature Bridge is projected as India’s first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge.
The bridge was inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on November 4. However, the inauguration ceremony witnessed ruckus after supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party clashed with each other. Delhi BJP chief and north east Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari also had an altercation with senior police officials. Tiwari accused Delhi Police of colluding with the Aam Aadmi Party in a bid to attack him while the party accused him of indulging in hooliganism.
The construction of the bridge was first announced in 2004. But it missed several deadlines and was supposed to be operational by 2010, just before the Commonwealth Games. However, the government again failed to get it ready by 2010 due to which the construction cost rose to Rs 1,594 crore in 2015 from the initial cost of Rs 1,131 crore.
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