New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) The Delhi government Thursday decided to construct a dedicated flyover, the longest in Delhi, to connect Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the Games Village located 5 km away. Finance Minister Ashok Kumar Walia Thursday gave the go-head to construct a 5-km-long elevated corridor at an investment of nearly Rs.5 billion. 

He said the elevated road from Sarai Kale Khan, off Nizamuddin West, to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium would facilitate the movement of 10,000 players from the Games Village to the main venue during the event.

The construction of the elevated road would be completed within 24 months, he said. 

He described the project as an “important infrastructure, which would not only prove to be beneficial during Commonwealth Games but would also become a permanent link between east, south and central Delhi”.

“It would serve as a dedicated corridor for movement of players” during the Commonwealth Games, the minister said after a meeting.

After the 2010 Games, the corridor would provide free flow of traffic for commuters, Walia said. It would also help ease traffic congestion on the Ring Road at Ashram, on Mathura Road and other arterial roads. 

“Increase in average travel speed will reduce fuel consumption, pollution and loss of man-hours and also reduce the maintenance cost of roads,” the minister explained.

Earlier, a tunnel road was proposed, but the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) did not give it the go-ahead, fearing it would pose a danger to heritage sites like Humayun Tomb in the vicinity of the planned road.