Gurgaon: A new footbridge (FOB) in Narsingpur, aimed at ensuring pedestrian safety on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, is now expected to be completed by March next year.
The construction of the FOB, which started in March this year and was due to be complete in six months, has been going on at a slow pace with only 40% of work finished so far.
The FOB, a 110-foot-long stainless-steel structure, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore just 300 meters away from the existing FOB.
According to GMDA officials, the civil work, including the foundation base, is complete, and the fabricated structure is being prepared in Indore. Assembly on-site is set to begin soon.
The delays in the project were attributed to various factors, including the monsoon and restrictions on truck movement due to the GRAP. With these restrictions now lifted, GMDA officials assured that the construction will accelerate.
"Now that the restrictions are lifted, the works will progress faster. Since it is a highway, it's a challenging task to carry out construction works without disrupting traffic flow, but the foundation is complete, and assembly will begin soon. We are confident of completing construction by March," said a senior GMDA official.
At Narsingpur, a densely populated area with several industrial units nearby, many people cross the expressway on foot and several central verge grills and fences have been damaged in their attempt to jump over them. This also poses a threat to their lives and safety. This issue was raised at a district road safety committee meeting earlier, leading to GMDA being tasked with constructing the new FOB.
According to District Road Safety Committee's data, five pedestrians have lost their lives since 2020 near Tata Pasco at Narsingpur.
Once completed, the new bridge will not only provide a safer crossing for pedestrians but also help reduce traffic snarls caused by jaywalking on the NH-48.
In addition to the Narsingpur FOB, GMDA plans to construct five more FOBs at key locations in high-traffic zones. These include Medanta Hospital, Artemis Hospital, Good Earth City Centre on Vikas Marg, Sector 14/16 dividing road on MG Road, and Bhim Nagar Chowk on New Railway Road.
Moreover, the authority is set to begin work on four FOBs at key spots—two on Sohna Road, one near Sheetla Mata Temple, and another at Sector 14 market.