Walkway with a view to be built on Mathura Road

Friday, Feb 05, 2010

In a refreshing change from the bulky, inaccessible and inconvenient foot overbridges blocking the skyline, the Delhi government is constructing one on Mathura Road near the Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium with a better design and lifts for the physically challenged.

The walkway is being built for the Public Works Department (PWD) by the Delhi Integrated Multi-modal Transit Service (DIMTS), a special purpose vehicle created by the Delhi government to implement its transport schemes, for the Commonwealth Games and easy access from the stadium to the Purana Qila parking lot.

According to DIMTS officials, there will be a walkway with landscaping near the approaches, and street furniture for the convenience of pedestrians.

"What makes this bridge special is the pipe-based steel structure of the bridge and the fact that it is the largest single-span bridge — a hanging bridge without any mid-support — which does not affect traffic," said a DIMTS official, adding that the walkway has been designed to give a good view of the Purana Qila as well.

Officials claim the foot overbridge can accommodate at least 5,000 people using the walkway in an hour, as against the usual capacity of a normal foot overbridge at 1,000 people in a day. While the construction of the foot overbridge began in October last year, it is expected to be completed by April this year.

Planned overbridge
The arches of the bridge are 59 metres long with the clear central span extending to 33 metres with a total gross weight of the walkway steel structure is approximately 40 metric tonnes.

Project cost: Rs 3.53 crore

Original news source http://www.dancewithshadows.com/business/new-traffic-system-planned-for-delhi-commonwealth-games-2010/