NEW DELHI: For more than a decade, Barapullah Phase-III became synonymous with delays, missed deadlines and unanswered questions. What was originally expected to be completed in 2017 remained unfinished until 2026 due to land acquisition disputes, environmental clearances, technical challenges and prolonged administrative hurdles. The initial sanctioned budget for the Barapullah Phase 3 project was Rs 1,260.63 crore, which was approved in 2014 prior to construction.
Despite the challenges, on Monday evening, the story took a decisive turn. The final deck slab of the Barapullah Phase-III corridor was successfully cast, connecting both ends of the structure across the Yamuna River and bringing one of Delhi’s longest-pending infrastructure projects to completion. The project has crossed nearly 4.5 lakh cubic metres of concrete, with the final slab physically connecting both sides of the Yamuna
PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh visited the site and shared dinner with workers, engineers and staff members. He said the final slab marked the completion of a promise Delhi had awaited for over a decade.
The project’s journey has been far from easy. Approved in 2014 and initiated in 2015, it was originally targeted for completion in 2017. Instead, it became one of Delhi’s most delayed infrastructure projects, with setbacks ranging from a seven-year land acquisition dispute and environmental approvals to technical challenges associated with constructing a major bridge structure across the Yamuna floodplain.
The project witnessed accelerated progress over the past year and a half through continuous monitoring, regular inspections and coordinated action by multiple agencies.
Singh further said, “Governments are ultimately judged not by announcements but by delivery. What remained incomplete for nearly eleven years is now approaching completion. This achievement belongs to every worker who spent long hours on this site, every engineer who solved complex challenges and every Delhiite who continued to hope that this project would one day become a reality.”
The elevated corridor is expected to transform connectivity between East and South Delhi. Once operational, commuters travelling from Mayur Vihar and adjoining areas towards Sarai Kale Khan, AIIMS and South Delhi will benefit from signal-free movement, reducing travel time significantly and easing congestion at traffic bottlenecks, including NH-24, DND Flyway, Ring Road and Sarai Kale Khan.
Timeline
2014: Project approved (Cost: `1,260.63 crore)
2015: Construction began
2017: Original completion deadline
2017–2025: Delays due to land acquisition and technical hurdles
June 2026: Final deck slab cast, corridor structurally connected
Why Was It Delayed?
Seven-year land acquisition dispute
Environmental clearances
Technical challenges over Yamuna floodplain
Administrative bottlenecks