Finally, a new bridge to be built on Yamuna (Times of India 26 February 2011)

New Delhi: Even as Delhi was denied the anti-collision device and the Sukhi Griha scheme for slum-dwellers,there is one project in the budget which has created some excitement.The railways,despite strong objections from the Archaeological Survey of India,are now ready to construct the alternate rail bridge on the Yamuna near Shahdara.The decision was taken after the Old Yamuna Bridge was closed to rail traffic for more than two days,thus cutting off Old Delhi station from the Sahibabad junction.`` We are aware of the ASIs objections related to Salimgarh Fort but we have kept the allocations since this will benefit thousands of rail passengers, said Manish Tiwari,CPRO,Northern Railway.
Railway engineers claimed its the time to decommission the old bridge.There is single-line entry to the Old Delhi railway station.As a result there is congestion on the bridge and that has weakened it.Its a safety hazard now, said an official.
The railways say they are in talks with ASI to complete the work at the earliest.`` We are in talks with ASI.We wont like Salimgarh Fort to be damaged in any way.We have made the necessary alignment changes and are hoping that this time it will receive the necessary approval, said Tiwari.Out of the essential Rs 80 crore estimated to be used for construction,railways have decided to release Rs 39.27 crore this fiscal.ASI said it was `` impossible for them to grant permission.`The National Monuments Authority is been set up by mid-March.The railways have to approach it for permission, said an official. Railways will run two new Durantos from the city besides the doubledecker service to Jaipur.The new Durantos will ply between Mumbai Central and New Delhi and between Nizamuddin and Ajmer on a bi-weekly basis.A Shatabdi Express to Ludhiana has also been introduced.The Sealdah Duranto frequency has been increased from two days a week to five days.A Vivek Express (to celebrate the 150th birth year of Vivekananda),a Kavi Guru Express (to celebrate 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore) and a Janam Bhoomi Gaurav Express (to celebrate tourism) will ply from NCR.