Delhi government plans to develop Yamuna riverfront

NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Tuesday announced its ambitious plan to develop the Yamuna riverfront at Dhai Pushta in Sonia Vihar. In the first phase, a 5km stretch will be developed. It will have walking and cycling tracks, wetland, gardens, international centre for kayaking, parks, boating facility , among other things.

While announcing the Rs 200 crore plan, water and tourism minister Kapil Mishra said the developed riverfront will set an example for the rest of the country . “We will not have a concrete surface like the Sabarmati riverfront and trees will be planted along the banks. Also, we will not use treated water from some other source and will, instead, clean the Yamuna water,“ he said.

"We were told that this is the best area for kayaking. As many children from Sonia Vihar have won medals in the sport at both national and international levels, we want to encourage them by providing good facilities," Mishra said. The minister was speaking at the second maha aarti organised by Delhi government at Sonia Vihar in east Delhi. The first aarti was organised in November 2015 at Geeta Ghat near Kashmere Gate ISBT. The maha aarti, being conducted by 108 priests, is in spired by the ones held in Rishikesh and Varanasi every day. Hundreds of people, including representatives of various religious organisations, gathered at Dhai Pushta for the aarti. A cultural programme comprising contemporary and folk dance performances by different artistes was a major attraction.

Mishra said that work on development of Geeta Ghat is on in full swing. "The project is likely to be completed in the next two months. We have spent Rs 25 lakh on it," he said.

The government has pre pared a Yamuna Turnaround Plan, which has in-principle approval from the LG, DDA and NGT's committee looking after river development. "We have sought Rs 5,000 crore from the Centre for this. We plan to revive the river in the next three years," he said.

East Delhi stretch to go signal-free

The Delhi government is planning to make the stretch between the Loni road and the Shastri Park traffic signal in east Delhi signal-free. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia made this announcement on Tuesday after he got stuck in a traffic jam for nearly 30 minutes.

"I have called a meeting with PWD minister Satyendar Jain and other officials to discuss ways to make the entire corridor between Loni road and the Shastri Park traffic signal (in Karawal Nagar constitutency) signal-free," Sisodia said."We will work out a plan soon," he added.