Delhi: B

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Barapullah elevated corridor

Phase II: 2018

Mayank Manohar, July 24, 2018: The Times of India

Map- The location of the Barapullah elevated corridor
From: Mayank Manohar, July 24, 2018: The Times of India

The Barapullah elevated corridor, phase II- salient features
From: Mayank Manohar, July 24, 2018: The Times of India

The much-awaited Barapullah phase II project will be dedicated to the public on Saturday. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will inaugurate the new two-km stretch of the elevated corridor, which will reduce the travel time between Sarai Kale Khan and Aurobindo Marg or INA Market by 20-25 minutes, PWD officials said.

The 4km phase I connecting Sarai Kale Khan with JLN Stadium has been operational since 2010. The initial deadline for the completion of phase II of the project was 2015 and the project cost was Rs 565 crore.

But the project was held up for various reasons, including delays in getting permission from the railways. In 2017, construction work had to be stopped following a high court order directing the PWD to first finish desilting the Kushak nullah. PWD officials claimed that it took oneand-a-half-years to get permission from the railways.

Shorter ride from east Delhi to airport

The department had to construct piers on the drain while the railways was supposed to install girders above the railway line. The Northern Railway had to complete 126-metre stretch near the Sewa Nagar railway crossing, which is now ready.

“The delay happened due to land acquisition but now everything is back on track and project is complete,” said a senior PWD official.

Once inaugurated, Barapullah phase II will reduce travel time for airport-bound traffic from east Delhi. Commute time on the stretch will further reduce after phase III, which will extend the corridor to Mayur Vihar in east Delhi. Phase III is stuck due to delay in land acquisition on the Yamuna riverbed. The work for phase III is likely to get completed by December 2019 and would cost around Rs 1,260 crore.

A senior PWD official said, “LG has formed a committee for acquisition of a 750-metre stretch near Mayur Vihar. The committee will submit its report in two months on the same and it depends on the time taken for land acquisition. We have started the work for shifting of high-tension wires. Five new towers will be constructed for rerouting of transmission line.”

He said, “The foundation of these towers has been completed and the shifting of utility will cost Rs 20 crore.”

Begumpuri

Begumpuri Masjid

The status of the Begumpuri Masjid, as in 2018
From: January 11, 2018: The Times of India

See graphic:

The status of the Begumpuri Masjid, as in 2018

Bikaner House

Restoration/ 2016

Mohammad Ibrar, Lost glory of Bikaner House restored, Dec 06 2016: The Times of India

Bikaner House, New Delhi; Picture courtesy: Mohammad Ibrar, Lost glory of Bikaner House restored, Dec 06 2016: The Times of India

Once a symbol of pride of the Bikaner state, Bikaner House had, over the years, lost its sheen. This was primarily due to the perception that it was just a stop to board a luxury bus to a Rajasthan city.

Things changed in 2015 when the building was restored. Now, it's fast becoming a cultural hub.

Sumanta Bhowmick, author of Princely Palaces in New Delhi, said, “It is one of the oldest and simplest of the princely palaces of Delhi with its beautiful lamps, high ceiling and tastefully done interiors, jaalis and chajjas.One speciality of this building is that the main door leads directly to the dining hall, as the Maharaja didn't like to keep his guests waiting.“

The restoration brief of the Rajasthan government--which had its offices in the building--said the building and its environs had to be modernised without altering its old look. “So we had to make ornamental changes,“ said Priya Pall, curational director, Bikaner House.

About 4.6 acres of the 7acre complex were worked on. Before that, all the offices were vacated. Pall said a small portion of the ball room's wooden flooring had to be repaired due to termite damage, walls were painted with lime, and the jaalis were also restored. “The large chandeliers are the original ones, and some new ones had to be put with the same cut glass lamps and steel chains,“ Pall said. “It has now become the gateway to Rajasthan,“ Pall added.

The ball room, conference room and rear lawns known as Chandni Bagh, have hosted several events in the past few months--from musical evenings to book launches.

On Monday , the iconic themed restaurant chain, Chor Bizarre, opened its outlet at Bikaner House as well. There's also a designer store called Vayu, which is run by designers Vivek Sahani and Dev Chang, and which showcases the best of Rajasthan's crafts.

Bikaner House was designed by Charles G Blomfield as a palace befitting a king that Maharaja Ganga Singh was.