Major projects entailing an investment of Rs 31,930 crore are in the pipeline to decongest the national Capital, including development of the Dwarka Expressway at a cost of Rs 6,000 crore, Union road transport and highways minister
Nitin Gadkari said.
The initiatives, some of which are progressing fast, are in line with the Modi government's vision to ensure seamless flow of traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR), besides minimising vehicular pollution, Gadkari said.
"We have undertaken projects worth Rs 31,930 crore to decongest Delhi and NCR and minimise vehicular pollution, which has become a major problem," the minister said.
"Work on the Rs 12,000 crore Eastern Peripheral Expressway and Rs 6,000 crore Delhi-Meerut Expressway is on full swing and bids have been invited for the Rs 6,000-crore project for development of Dwarka Expressway."
"Work has already been awarded for decongestion of the Dhaula Kuan-airport corridor to be executed at a cost of Rs 260 crore. Besides, detailed project report (DPR) is in progress for a new Rs 5,000 crore ring road project (UER II) for Delhi," Gadkari said.
Last month, chairing a high-level meeting attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, among others, Gadkari had asked officials to expedite the Urban Extension Road (UER) project.
It was also decided that the extra cost of the first phase of UER II will be shared by NHAI and DDA on a 50:50 basis. The master plan for Delhi has proposed UER II, which connects National Highways 1, 8 and 10.
This road was proposed to reduce traffic on the Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. It was also decided that DDA will hand over encumbrance free land.
Gadkari said apart from UER II, bids have been invited for development of the Gurgaon-Sohna road with an elevated highway/six-lane road with service roads. The project will cost Rs 1,500 crore.
Besides these projects, 90 per cent progress has been achieved in development of major injunctions on NH-8 in Gurgaon to be executed at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore and construction of a flyover at Hero Honda Chowk entailing a cost of Rs 170 crore, the minister said.
About the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, he said its first leg which includes India's first 14-lane highway and 2.5 metre-wide cycle track, is set to be inaugurated any time now.
He said it is being completed in a record 14 months as against the scheduled 30 months and will reduce travel time from Delhi to Meerut from four hours to 45 minutes.