New Delhi
The Centre has taken up an ambitious road infrastructure programme worth Rs 1.04 lakh crore to ease traffic congestion in the National Capital Region, with a special focus on South Delhi, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Replying to a question from BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Gadkari said projects covering a total length of 2,105 km are currently under various stages of implementation to improve connectivity and reduce travel time across Delhi and adjoining regions.
Among the key projects is a six-lane greenfield corridor connecting the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyway with Faridabad and Sohna at an estimated cost of Rs 4,583 crore. Another major proposal is the construction of a six-lane road tunnel at Shiv Murti to connect the Dwarka Expressway (NH-248BB) and NH-48 with Nelson Mandela Marg in Vasant Kunj. The tunnel project is estimated to cost Rs 6,969.67 crore.
To further decongest South Delhi, the government has also proposed upgrading major traffic corridors, including the Ashram Chowk–Badarpur Border stretch, the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, and the INA–Mahipalpur corridor. An interchange at Kalindi Kunj Junction up to Okhla Barrage has also been proposed.
Gadkari said the cost and implementation timelines for these projects would be finalised after feasibility studies and the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), followed by approval from the competent authority.
He added that development and maintenance of National Highways is a continuous process, with new projects being undertaken based on traffic demand, techno-economic feasibility and alignment with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
