Bird’s eye view of Delhi atop Signature Bridge from September

NEW DELHI: The observatory deck on top of the pylon of the iconic Signature Bridge, which promises to give a bird’s eye view of the city, is likely to be opened for public by the end of September this year.
Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) officials said the construction of the four-storey visitors’ deck and glass facade was complete and two of the four high-speed elevators had also been installed.“We just have to install and make the remaining two elevators functional, which should not take more than a month. We will complete the observatory deck by September 25,” said a senior DTTDC official.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and senior Delhi government officials visited the Siganture Bridge on Monday and reviewed its progress. In a statement, the government said that the viewing gallery constructed atop the pylon of the bridge at the height of 165m was likely to be open by September end.
“The side lifts that were being used for the construction will be dismantled over the next few weeks to prepare the access to the gallery for public. The opening of the Viewing Gallery will be the end of Phase I of the Signature Bridge project,” the government statement said.
In Phase II of the project, the bridge will be developed as an international tourist destination and will have biodiversity parks, amphitheatres, markets and riverfronts developed on both banks of the Yamuna. “The Signature Bridge will be developed as the pride and lifeline of the city’s tourism sector,” said an official.
Officials said that the CM has directed DTTDC officials to beautify the access points to the Viewing Gallery and provide adequate facilities such as parking lots and public conveniences to visitors.
A DTTDC official said that a temporary parking lot with a small cafeteria and public conveniences will be built on the western side near the electric sub-station of the bridge to facilitate the visitors. A steel ramp will also be constructed to take tourists to the elevators. DTTDC has a rudimentary tourism destination scheme, made in 2006-07, which was explained to Kejriwal on Monday.
“The CM has asked us to bring the tourism destination scheme in the cabinet for approval. We will have to hire a consultant to prepare a proper plan,” the official said.