Delhi-Meerut Expressway to start by 2018: NHAI

The Dollar Business Bureau

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Friday said the 96-km Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) is likely to be operational by March 2018.

NHAI Chairman Raghav Chandra on Friday visited project sites and assured developers of full support in resolving all bottlenecks for its early completion. 

In December 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the DME road project, which was aimed at easing congestion in the national capital region (NCR) and augmenting Western UP economy, but more importantly reducing traffic snarls on the existing highway. 

Striking a similar chord, Chandra said, “Nationa Highway Authority of India(NHAI) is fully geared up for resolving the site specific issues, and all necessary facilitation is being given to concessionaires for expediting the early execution of this prestigious project of the government, aiming to give relief to road users at large which will boost the economy of Western UP."

The Rs.7,620-crore project envisages to shorten travel time between New Delhi and Meerut to just 45 minutes from its current 3 hours.

Currently, NH-58 is the only connecting route between Delhi and Meerut and is often congested due to heavy traffic at several places, causing massive inconvenience to commuters.

To complete the project early, the NHAI has divided it into four packages - Delhi to Gazipur; Gazipur to Dasna, Dasna to Hapur and Dasna to Meerut. 

Contract for the Delhi portion has been awarded to Welspun Delhi Meerut Expressway Pvt. Ltd. The project is being implemented on PPP-Hybrid Annuity mode. 

NHAI Chairman also inspected the construction site of Eastern Peripheral Expressway Package - III at Dasna.

Highlighting several bottlenecks, the NHAI said, ‘There are bottlenecks in the smooth implementation of the project such as encroachments in Pandav Nagar/ Vinod Nagar and unauthorised colonies in about 0.5 km stretch and slum area cluster, Nehru Camp Patparganj in about 0.5 km on the NH-24 land.’