Since coming to power in 2014, the Narendra Modi government has proposed a number of projects to decongest the national capital. In total, 16 projects worth more than Rs 60,000 crore have been planned, covering around 870 km. As the government completes nearly 10 years, here is a look at the status of these major projects.
The ministry of road transport and highways has already completed eight projects worth Rs 24,600 crore covering around 370 km. These include the 135-km Eastern Peripheral Expressway, completed in 2018, as well as the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, completed in 2021. The completed project list also includes the 70-km Delhi-Panipat road and the eight-lane corridor between the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Dhaula Kuan.
Paving the way for ‘500 kilometres’
At least eight more projects – 500 km in length – are also fast coming up in the national capital region that will ease the journey between nearby towns, MoRTH documents seen by News18 show. Five of these are expected before June and one by December. Two more projects will take a little longer.
Parts of two of these projects – the 30-kilometre Dwarka Expressway and 76-kilometre Urban Extension Road – are expected to be inaugurated this month, as reported by News18 last week.
Two more projects – a 32-km six-lane road between the Akshardham Temple and Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and a 225-km road between Delhi and Jaipur – are expected to be ready by June, the ministry documents show. By December, a 60-kilometre road between DND Interchange at Kalindi Kunj and Faridabad and Soha will be ready. A four-lane 39-km road between Gohana and Sonipat is expected to be complete by next month.
By June 2025, a new road connecting the Delhi and Noida airports will also be ready. This 32-km road will also ease the journey for those taking the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway from east Delhi or western Uttar Pradesh.
According to the latest available figures, of the Rs 60,000-crore projects, ventures worth Rs 27,000 crore have been completed while projects worth Rs 33,000 crore are underway. Around 90 per cent of the construction work has been completed on Dwarka Expressway, while 85 per cent is done on UER 2 and DND-Sohna Road.
Another road, work on which is expected from next financial year, is also coming up in the town that will connect Vasant Kunj and Dwarka Expressway. This five-kilometre road will be built for Rs 3,000 crore.
Why these roads are important
Being the biggest city, Delhi sees a huge flow of traffic every day to and from nearby towns with people travelling long distances for jobs, education, and healthcare. People commute between Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Meerut for various reasons. With better roads and enhanced connectivity, not only travel hours are reduced but it also helps in reducing air pollution – one of the biggest banes of the region.
Over the years, vehicles and pollution levels in Delhi have grown exponentially. This has resulted in severe traffic congestion. The city, with the increase in vehicles, needed improved and seamless roads for better traffic movement.
These access-control roads will help commuters and the authorities not just ease the flow of traffic but also cut fuel bills and pollution levels.
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