PM to inaugurate EPE & Phase1 of Delhi -Meerut Expressway

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on May 27, 2018, dedicate to the nation two newly built expressways in the Delhi NCR Region. The first of these is the 14 lane, access controlled, package –I of the  Delhi-Meerut Expressway stretching from  Nizammudin Bridge to Delhi UP Border.

This 8.36 km stretch of National Highway has been completed in a record time of 18 months as against the earlier expected construction period of 30 months at a cost of about  Rs 841.5 crore. It includes a 6-lane Expressway and 4+4 Service lanes, i.e. 14-lane facility from Nizamuddin Bridge in Delhi to UP Border.

This is the first National Highway in the country with 14 lanes, and has several features that would help reduce pollution. These 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. The foundation stone for the project was laid down by the Prime Minister on December 31, 2015, according to a PIB release.

The Delhi- Meerut Expressway  project  aims to provide faster and safer connectivity between Delhi and Meerut  and beyond this,  with Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.   The total length of the project is 82 km of which the first 27.74 km will be  14-laned while the rest will be 6-lane expressway. The project is likely to cost Rs 4,975.17 crore. This will be the first expressway to have dedicated bicycle tracks on the nearly 28 km stretch between Delhi and Dasna.

The project involves construction of 11 flyovers/interchanges, 5 major and 24 minor bridges, 3 ROBs (rail over bridges), 36 vehicular and 14 pedestrian underpasses. It will also have elevated section of 5.91 kms. The entire project has been divided into four package. Once the entire project is complete, it will take just 60 minutes to travel from Delhi to Meerut.

The second project to be dedicated to the Nation on May 26, 2018, is the 135 km long Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) stretching from Kundli on NH 1 to Palwal on NH 2. The PM had laid the foundation for this project on November 5, 2015.

The project of Peripheral Expressways around Delhi comprising Western Peripheral Expressway (WPE) and Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), connecting NH-1 and NH-2 from Western and Eastern side of Delhi, has been envisaged with the twin objectives of decongesting and de-polluting the national capital by diverting the traffic not destined for Delhi.

The alignment of EPE starts near Kundli NH-1, traverses to cross river Yamuna , crosses SH-57 Mawikalan, NH-58 near Duhai, NH-24 near Dasna, NH-91 near Beel Akbarpur, Kasna-Sikandra road near Sirsa, river Yamuna again at village Faizupur Khadar (Haryana) , Atali-Chainsa Road (near village Maujpur) and ends at Palwal on NH-2 to join Western PE.