CM Rekha lays stone for footover bridge at Rajputana Rifles centre

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a footover bridge (FOB) at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre in Delhi Cantonment. She later inaugurated several development projects in the Shalimar Bagh constituency. Both events were organised as part of the Seva Pakhwada to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

The long-pending footover bridge at the Rajputana Rifles Centre will provide soldiers with a safe crossing across the busy Ring Road. At present, soldiers rely on a narrow underpass that often gets waterlogged or take long detours.

Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, CM Gupta said: “This footover bridge will end long-standing problems faced by soldiers. For us, their safety and comfort are the top priority. The bridge will be completed on time.”

The event was attended by New Delhi MP Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Verma and Lieutenant General Bhavnish Kumar (AVSM, VSM), among others.

The Chief Minister said the Delhi Government, guided by the spirit of Seva Pakhwada, is committed to improving facilities for both citizens and soldiers.

PWD Minister Parvesh Verma noted that the demand for the bridge had been pending for nearly three decades. “Our government sanctioned funds, floated the tender and began work without delay. By March next year, the bridge will be ready, standing as a symbol of respect for our brave soldiers,” he said.

Later in the day, CM Gupta visited the Shalimar Bagh constituency where she inaugurated and inspected several projects, including dense road carpeting, new sewer lines, semi-high mast lighting and park development.

Dense carpeting worth Rs 15 lakh was inaugurated in the GD Block, while work worth Rs 15.27 lakh commenced on the road near DAV School. Sewer line and road reconstruction are also underway in TU, MU, QU and Vaishali blocks.

Emphasising improvements in drainage and water supply, the Chief Minister said sewer and water line projects had been completed in several Pitampura blocks, while repair works costing Rs 26.60 lakh were ongoing in DU, AP and KP blocks.

She also announced the installation of five semi-high mast lights in parks across CD-GD, NU, F-1 NU and HP blocks at a cost of Rs 24 lakh. “Street lighting will be strengthened across the constituency before Diwali, and solar lights will be added to eliminate dark spots. No road will be left incomplete, and all pending works will be treated as high priority,” she said.