New Delhi: One of Delhi’s largest road bridge infrastructure projects, Barapullah Phase III, may miss its eighth deadline because a crucial 40-metre bridge deck on the Sarai Kale Khan-Mayur Vihar carriageway is yet to be cast.Eleven days before its June 30 deadline, TOI found at the construction site Friday that while the majority of the 3.5km elevated corridor is structurally complete, several critical works remain unfinished. Several officials said the project could be fully completed by July 10 and could possibly be opened for the public by July 15.The casting of the under-construction deck is scheduled for Monday. A handful of workers wearing safety helmets were seen moving across the expansive deck to give it a finishing touch before the casting work is taken up. An official said that after casting, the deck would require at least 15 days of curing and strength gain before it could be processed further to open it to traffic.Over 400 ground-level workers are working 24×7 in different shifts to complete the project as soon as possible while around 250 workers are engaged in other related works. PWD minister Parvesh Verma is monitoring the work almost daily, said an official. However, no response was available from Verma or his office regarding the latest delay.A lot of progress has been made since March. The Mayur Vihar-Sarai Kale Khan carriageway is now almost ready, with only a 400-metre stretch awaiting bitumen surfacing. Friday afternoon, around half a dozen workers from Rajasthan were seen sweeping and preparing the surface for black-topping while construction vehicles, including bitumen pavers, rollers and support trucks, stood lined up. “The black topping will be done in a couple of days,” said a worker.However, parts of the parapet walls are not yet ready on both carriageways, with labourers making final preparations for casting. Among other unfinished works on both carriageways are installation and finishing of multiple expansion joints, electrical and lighting works, and road markings.Officials attributed the delay partially to the shortage of bitumen and industrial gas due to the West Asia conflict. Labour shortages caused by migration during the recent West Bengal elections also affected schedules, they added.Barapullah Phase III, is expected to significantly improve connectivity between east and south Delhi by providing a seamless signal-free corridor across the Yamuna. The project has faced repeated delays since the work began in 2015 due to various reasons, including a seven-year land acquisition dispute.
