14 lane Delhi- Meerut Expressway to be ready by Dec 2017 : Gadkari

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari on November 14, 2017, reiterated the Government’s commitment for speedy  completion of highways projects in Delhi NCR to decongest the region and cut down vehicular pollution levels by nearly 50 percent.

Gadkari did an on the spot inspection of one such project, the Delhi – Meerut Expressway project, on November 14 and briefed media persons near Akshardham temple on NH 24.

Gadkari said that the first package of the Delhi – Meerut Expressway project stretching from Akshardham Temple to Delhi-UP border will be ready by December 2017.  The 9 km, 14 lane highway is being completed in a record time of 14 months against the expected construction period of 30 months. This is also the first national highway in the country with 14 lanes and has several features that would help reduce pollution. They include a 2.5 metre wide cycle track on either side of the highway, a vertical garden on the Yamuna Bridge, solar lighting system and watering of plants through drip irrigation only, according to a PIB release.

Gadkari said this highway will be developed further up to Lucknow and will be a lifeline for the people of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The highway will also reduce traffic congestion on the Delhi – Meerut route, which in turn will lower the pollution levels in the region, he said. He said that work on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways around Delhi is also going on at full speed and the former is likely to be ready before January 26, 2018.  Once the  NH-24 and the two peripheral expressways are ready, vehicles destined for neighbouring states will be able to bypass Delhi and this will reduce pollution by 50%.

The Minister also said that projects worth Rs 40,000 crore are being undertaken to decongest Delhi. They include plans for Dhaula Kuan stretch, Dwarka Expressway and a Ring Road for Delhi the cost for which will be borne jointly by the Centre and Delhi Government, according to the  PIB release.

Apart from speedy construction of highways, the Ministry is also taking other steps to check pollution arising from the highways sector. They include actively promoting the use of bio fuel driven vehicles  and electric vehicles, greening of highways, covering construction sites to contain dust and promoting the use of waterways. He added that tenders have been issued for dredging of river Yamuna and linking Delhi and Agra through waterways.