Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Ring Road to rid Delhi of polluting trucks complete

FINALLY Modi throws open remaining part of Kundlimane­sarpalwal expressway

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With the opening of the KMP Expressway, traffic congestion would reduce in the national capital region. Along with the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, it is expected to divert more than 50,000 heavy vehicles away from Delhi not destined for the national capital

The Kundli-manesar-palwExpres­sways were planned al (KMP) Expressway, also in 2006 following the apex known as Western court’s order to build a ring Peripheral Expressway, road outside Delhi for finally became fully channellin­g the traffic not operationa­l on Monday bound for the national when Prime Minister capital

Narenda Modi inaugurate­d

84-km stretch of the e-way. The fully access controlled It was built at a cost of over six-lane EPE provides entry ~9,000 crore and exit designated

interchang­es only and has The 135-km Eastern 406 structures, of which four Peripheral Expressway, built are major bridges, 46 minor at a cost of ~11,000 crore, bridges, three flyovers, was inaugurate­d in May this seven interchang­es, 221 year underpasse­s and eight

Together, the two road-over bridges (ROBS) expressway­s are expected to

The WPE’S Manesar-palwal divert more than 50,000

section has 32 agricultur­al heavy vehicles away from

underpasse­s, three

Delhi as vehicles going from

intersecti­ons and four toll north India to the western

plazas. The Kundli-manesar and southern parts of the

stretch has six box culverts, country would be able to do

58 pipe culverts, eight minor so without passing through

bridges, six major bridges, the national capital

four road-over bridges, 35 The Eastern and the underpasse­s, 21 vehicular Western Peripheral underpasse­s, among others

Bahadurgar­h Sonipat Gurgaon Yamuna river Hindon river

Ghaziabad Gautam Budh Nagar

Faridabad

reduce the number of vehicles entering Delhi as external traffic need not enter the national capital. This road also means that a 270-km network has become operationa­l around Delhi. Improved connectivi­ty is related to economic growth and developmen­t. In the last four years, our government has built 33,000-km length of highways across the nation,” Modi said, adding this could be accomplish­ed because there was a strong will to deliver.

The expressway is expected to cut commercial traffic entering the National Capital Region, including Delhi, by almost 30% and thus, reduce air pollution and vehicular congestion. The EPCA had recommende­d a peripheral road around Delhi so commercial traffic could be redirected as experts believe heavy vehicles which run on diesel, are a major source of air pollution in NCR.

The KMP expressway joins the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, also called Kundli-ghaziabadP­alwal Expressway at Kundli on one side and Palwal on the other. Together, these two highways now provide an express ring road encircling Delhi. Interstate vehicles can now take these roads to go to neighbouri­ng states and beyond without entering Delhi.

Taking a dig at the previous government, Modi said, “The expressway, which should have been completed eight to nine years ago, remained stuck because of the delaying tactics of the previous government. It suffered the same fate as the Commonweal­th Games. It was only after the project was reviewed by us and urgency was shown by the state that it could be complete.”

Without naming any party, Modi further said, “Atkane aur latkane wali sanskriti (the culture of keeping things in a limbo)” has made the people of Haryana and Delhi-ncr suffer a lot.

Modi, who flew to Sultanpur in a chopper around 12pm, also flagged off the Mujesar-ballabhgar­h Metro link and remotely laid the foundation of the Shri Vishawkarm­a Skill University in Palwal. He also paid tribute to martyrs of Rezangla War, a majority of whom were from the state. He said that Haryana epitomised “Himmat, Haunsla, Hosh and Hamsafar (bravery, courage, alertness and brotherhoo­d)” earning a resounding applause from the crowd, which, according to a police personnel on duty, was 30,000 to 35,000-strong.

The remarks did not go down well with the Congress party. The party alleged BJP government­s in the Centre and the state were throwing open an incomplete road due to ensuing elections.

 ?? PARVEEN KUMAR/HT ?? A view of the new section of the KMP expressway.
PARVEEN KUMAR/HT A view of the new section of the KMP expressway.

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