(This story originally appeared in on Jul 23, 2015)

NEW DELHI: A shortage of funds with the government for infrastructure development may usher in the private sector in works like maintenance of roads, and construction of flyovers and foot overbridges. The ITO decongestion plan is set to become the first project in which the government will outsource planning and construction. The trend may pick up pace if this project is perceived as successful.The work at ITO involves construction of a foot overbridge and a skywalk. "ITO is a prominent location and we also wanted to involve the public in the work of constructing the FOB and skywalk. For that, we have started a competition for innovation designs that are not only aesthetic but also fit in with the surroundings.It is open to everyone. Five designs will be shortlisted for which winners will be paid Rs 50,000 each. Thereafter, each will have to make a detailed presentation. The winner will be awarded Rs 2.5 lakh after which the design copyright will be transferred to PWD. This is the same amount that is paid to a consultant," said a senior PWD official.The project will then be tendered out for construction and maintenance. Two to three models of earning from the project are being considered. These include setting up of kiosks, advertisements on the FOB and skywalk and even installation of small cellphone towers on the structure. "There will be a concession period and a penalty clause as part of the contract wherein the company will be penalized for not maintaining the structure. The city is growing at breakneck speed and, if infrastructure has to keep pace, we will need to involve private players. The government will closely monitor such projects," said a source.ITO, where the first such project will come up, witnesses a huge volume of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic due to a heavy concentration of offices, a Metro station, the Tilak Bridge railway station and seven major arterial roads. A new complex for the Supreme Court and another court on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg will lead to increase in volume of traffic. At present, there is only one footbridge in the area which is on Vikas Marg. Delhi Metro has built a pedestrian subway.PWD has, therefore, planned a skywalk connecting Sikandara Road to the parking lot near Pragati Maidan Metro station across Mathura Road. The deck of this skywalk could be linked to the proposed footbridge being constructed by DMRC near the Metro station.The footbridge will connect the footpath of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg to the lane near the drain close to the Institution of Engineers building for access towards the Hans Bhawan side from the Tilak Bridge railway station.