Ahead of G20 Summit, AAP’s Delhi minister Atishi praises Centre for ITPO complex

Her statement comes in the wake of a prolonged ‘credit war’ over Delhi’s development and beautification prior to the summit.

Atishi and Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said Delhi is ready to welcome the guests and all preparation is complete.

Both ministers lauded the work done by its Public Works Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to beautify the city and for the infrastructure redevelopment.

Atishi cited the example of the integrated transit corridor next to the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex as an engineering marvel by the PWD.

“While the project was funded by the central government, it was executed by the PWD. The corridor is an engineering marvel because the ITPO complex was being constructed right above the main tunnel and the PWD engineers managed to build the corridor without any interruption,” said Atishi at a press conference.

Speaking about road stretches that had been rebuilt or revamped, Atishi said that the areas were not just meant for delegates but would serve the people of Delhi for years to come.

Bharadwaj highlighted some of the works undertaken by the PWD and the MCD over the last few months such as renovating market places in South Extension, Lajpat Nagar and R K Puram.

Asked about the disruption in traffic, Bharadwaj blamed them on the lack of planning by the Delhi Traffic Police.

“All colony roads which connect to main roads have been barricaded by the police, then forgotten and left as is,” he said.

Bharadwaj also alleged that rehearsals by the police were done unannounced on Monday as well when the rehearsals were supposed to take place over the weekend.

Attacking the L-G, Bharadwaj said, “The L-G was doing Atishi’s job — that of visiting road stretches and overseeing work being done by the PWD. But no one was doing his job, which is to monitor the police and law and order.”