Centre grants nod for 3 key projects worth Rs 14,850 crore to boost connectivity in Delhi-NCR, decongest internal roads
The Centre has approved three major infrastructure projects worth Rs 14,850 crore that will improve travel to the National Capital Region and cut down the time taken for Delhiites to reach destinations like Katra and Dehradun.
The upcoming projects will decongest major stretches in South East, South West and East Delhi, like the Barapullah flyover, Ring Road, and Outer Ring Road (ORR), besides other internal roads, and connect areas like Dwarka, ORR, Sarai Kale Khan, Kalindi Kunj and other key arterial stretches to Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon.
Extension of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway
Under one of the three mega infrastructure projects, the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra National Expressway (NE-5) will be extended from Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway to Urban Extension Road (UER)-II (NH-344M) in Delhi and Haryana.
The 20-km stretch will provide Expressway connectivity through UER-II, Dwarka Expressway, and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to traffic from Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, and Punjab transiting towards Central and Western India. The extension is expected to cost Rs 4,000 crore, said an official.
'This stretch will provide direct connectivity to traffic headed to Delhi, Gurgaon and IGI Airport from the Delhi-Katra expressway through UER-II and Dwarka Expressway. The highway will provide alternative connectivity for UER-II with the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway,' said a senior official.
Officials said that work has been awarded for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Once it is approved, tendering process for the civil works will begin.
After the completion of this highway, the Delhi-Katra Expressway may also serve as an alternative route to NH-44, officials said, adding that this will also divert vehicles from other states and curb vehicular pollution in Delhi. With this, people living border or outer parts of the city can reach the airport quickly.
Extension of UER-II near Alipur
The UER-II – also known as the third Ring Road of Delhi – near Alipur will be extended till the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) near Tronica City in Ghaziabad, said officials. The 17-km-long extension is expected to cost Rs 3,350 crore.
'This will also act as a bypass to NH-44, and Delhi Outer and Inner Ring Roads, as traffic destined to move to North, North West, West and South Delhi and Gurgaon will travel through UER-II and Gurgaon and Dwarka Expressway to reach their destinations, thereby decongesting Delhi,' said a senior official.
UER-II is almost complete, and it is likely to be thrown open to the public before August this year.
Officials added that connecting UER-II to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway will also decongest the Capital by diverting long-distance and freight traffic away from central roads, easing pressure on NH-48, NH-44, and ring roads, along with the Barapullah drain elevated corridor.
'It will provide faster connectivity to traffic from Haryana and Rajasthan, destined to move towards Dehradun… Currently, the bids for DPR consultants are under evaluation and will likely be awarded this week,' said officials.
Eastern extension of UER-II
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) also has plans to extend the Eastern part of UER-II from Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to Noida via Ghaziabad and Faridabad. The 65-km extension is set to cost Rs 7,500 crore.
This highway will connect major roads such as the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, DND-Faridabad highway and Yamuna Expressway. It will also boost connectivity to towns such as Loni, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Noida, and Faridabad with North, North West, West and South West Delhi.
Officials said the stretch will also help decongest Delhi's internal roads, including the ORR, Sarai Kale Khan section of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Kalindi Kunj, by providing a high-speed alternative route for intercity and freight traffic, bypassing the city centre. 'Currently, bids for preparation of the DPR are under evaluation and will likely be awarded by June 20 this year,' said officials.
The projects, to be executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), were also discussed in a meeting held last week between the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Resume direct flights, reduce hotel tariffs to revive tourism in Kashmir'
Srinagar: The travel trade industry has appealed to airlines to resume flights to Srinagar that were discontinued after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 so that tourism in Kashmir can revive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While all flights to Srinagar, Jammu and over two dozen other areas were suspended in May, as India conducted air strikes against terror hubs in Pakistan, some services including direct flights from Kolkata to Srinagar by IndiGo Airlines and Air India Express have not resumed after hostilities ceased on May 10. IndiGo has indicated that it will resume the direct flight from June 16. Last month, TOI wrote about the 'Chalo Kashmir' campaign, a strong community-tourism industry connect initiative launched by the Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), which handles around 4 lakh tourists from Kolkata in a year, around 40,000 of whom travel to Kashmir. Taking the campaign forward, TAAI started a new campaign called Rally for Valley to boost tourism in Kashmir. "We are in talks with the Union govt as well as airlines and hotel bodies to put a cap on tariffs that can help us shape attractive packages for tourists," said TAAI president Sunil Kumar. "As for safety, we are visiting the valley with our families. Tourists have nothing to fear. People here are among the most hospitable. This is the best time to visit the Valley," he added. Over 15 lakh tourists visited Kashmir last year. The Valley was packed with tourists again this year before the terror attack triggered mass cancellations. The downturn in tourists has hit Kashmiris hard. "In April, we were charging Rs 5,000 for a round trip to Pahalgam from Srinagar. Now we are taking tourists even for Rs 3,000," said Md Rouf, a driver. Restaurants like Lazeez, which had to turn down guests two months back, are now giving special offers to fill tables. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Very few rooms have been booked across several hotels. Had it not been for the terror attacks, these hotels would have been packed. These hotels should take a Covid-time-like approach and cut down on tariffs. We have set ourselves a target until Sept this year by when we intend to revive tourism back in Kashmir," said TAAI chairman (east) Anjani Dhanuka. The newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, travelling through the landmark Chenab Bridge, is also being promoted as a game changer. "Kolkata will host the first roadshow promoting Kashmir as a safe destination. We are also regularly updating our social media handles with snippets and current activities in popular destinations in Srinagar, Pahalgam, Jammu, Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and other places to encourage tourists from Kolkata," said Manav Soni, TAAI national committee member.
Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Relief for Gali: HC suspends conviction, grants him bail in illegal mining case
Hyderabad: Telangana high court Wednesday suspended both the conviction and sentence of Karnataka former minister and mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy in an illegal mining case while also giving him bail, an order that would save Gali's position as an MLA. Following the conviction and seven-year sentence imposed by a special CBI court, Gali stood disqualified as an MLA and the election authorities would have held a bypoll soon for his seat (Gangavathi). Agreeing with the arguments of the legislator's lawyer, senior counsel S Nagamuthun, that damages from the conviction were irreversible, Justice K Lakshman also ordered his release from jail with certain conditions. Gali was told not to leave the country or commit unlawful acts anywhere and to furnish two sureties worth Rs 10 lakh. He has already served half of the seven-year sentence while being a remand prisoner. Along with Gali, three other individuals – BV Srinivas Reddy (Obulapuram Mining Company MD), VD Rajagopal (former director, AP mines and geology department) and Mehfuz Ali Khan (PA to Gali) – and one entity, the company OMC, were convicted by the special CBI court last month. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Amazon's Hottest Selling Hearing Aid Is Back On Sale Oricle Hearing Aid Learn More Undo On Tuesday, apart from Gali, Justice Lakshman stayed the conviction of the entity OMC. The judge also granted bail to the other three with the same conditions. The criminal appeals of these three against their conviction will be heard on Aug 11. Srilakshmi issue to be heard on June 19 The judge also sought a counter from the CBI in the criminal revision plea filed by senior IAS officer and former AP industries secretary Y Srilakshmi and posted her case to June 19. The HC had earlier discharged her from the case but the CBI had appealed in the Supreme Court, which directed the HC to hear the CBI version also before arriving at a conclusion. On Tuesday, senior counsel P Venugopal, appearing for Srilakshmi, said she has an apprehension about Justice Lakshman hearing her revision plea in view of last year's judgment delivered by him where he had refused to quash the case against her. When CBI counsel Srinivas Kapatia sought a week's time to file their counter, the judge reminded him that the CBI could not dodge filing a counter now, saying, "You complained to the apex court about the HC not hearing your version. But here you have not filed your counter despite a three-month deadline fixed by the Supreme Court asking the HC to decide the issue." Srilakshmi had succeeded Kripanandam as industries secretary. The special court, while convicting Gali and the others, had acquitted Kripanandam as well as then industry minister Sabitha Indra Reddy in the illegal mining case.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Govt according top priority to strengthen rural economy to realize dream of self-reliant Himachal: CM Sukhu
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 11 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government is working with a resolve to make Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant and prosperous state, for which various measures have been taken during the last two and a half years. He remarked that this dream can only be realised by strengthening the rural economy, as more than 80 per cent of Himachal's population is dependent on agriculture and horticulture. Shifting focus to raising the economy of the agrarian community is the state government's top priority. 'Himachal has become the first State in the country to provide a Minimum Support Price (MSP) on organic products produced from natural farming. My government twice enhanced the MSP on the procurement of maize, firstly to Rs. 30 and thereafter to Rs. 40 per kilogram and that of wheat from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kilogram. Besides, my government is providing an MSP of Rs. 90 per kilogram to increase the production of raw turmeric,' Chief Minister said. The state government has introduced maize flour produced through natural farming under the brand name Him- Bhog Him- Makki. This product highlights the state's commitment to sustainable agriculture and empowering farmers. More than 4,000 quintals of maize have been procured from as many as 1590 farmer families practising natural farming across 10 districts of the state, excluding Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, an official release said. Sukhu said the state government has made Him-bhog Him-Makki maize flour available through the Public Distribution System (PDS) depots across the state. 'This flour is also available for sale on HIM-ERA, the government-authorised portal. This initiative aims to make organic maize flour accessible to both urban and rural populations, he said, adding that Rs 1.20 crore was directly transferred to farmers' bank accounts for the procurement of around 400 metric tonnes of maize.' The state government has decided to provide an MSP for raw turmeric from this financial year, which will be processed and marketed under the brand name 'Himachal Haldi'. The state government has set a target to connect 9.61 lakh farmers with natural farming in a phased manner, reiterated the Chief Minister. 'When the Congress came to power two and a half years ago, I observed that the farmers used to sell their land under compulsion just to repay the loan amount. We decided to help such farmers through the Interest Subvention Scheme, as a one-time settlement, especially for those facing land auctions', said the Chief Minister. He said that during the last two and a half years, a shifting trend has been witnessed in the agrarian economy, wherein farmers are shifting their focus towards natural farming. Farmers in large numbers across the state, have adopted chemical-free farming which is evident from the fact that over 2,23,000 farmers and horticulturists have adopted natural farming, either partially or fully in almost all the panchayats of the State. The state government has focused upon exploring options for additional income generation for farmers, ensuring fair prices for their produce, providing quality seeds, expanding and strengthening irrigation facilities, providing crop insurance, providing training and promoting agricultural research. This initiative reflects not only a commitment to the environment but also a dedication to empowering farmers and strengthening the rural economy, making Himachal Pradesh a pioneer in sustainable agricultural development, release said. The state government's proactive measures in providing fair pricing, expanding natural farming and supporting small farmers ensure a brighter future for Himachal Pradesh's farming community by bridging the gap between traditional farming practices and modern market demands, thus setting an example for the rest of the country, said the Chief Minister. (ANI)
