Delhi cabinet approves release of money for peripheral expressways

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) The Delhi cabinet today gave its nod for the release of balance amount of Rs 266.40 crore as its share of enhanced land acquisition cost for constructing peripheral expressways in a bid to ease vehicular congestion in the city.

The cabinet, in a meeting presided by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, also gave the green signal for the construction of Grade Separator at Mukarba Chowk by the Public Works Department at a cost of Rs 195 crore.

After the meeting, Ms Dikshit said construction of peripheral expressways around the capital and a Grade Separator at Mukarba Chowk would go a long way in traffic decongestion in Delhi.

She added her government had decided to release its share on account of enhanced land acquisition cost by the Haryana government from Rs 844 crore to Rs 1307 crore for both the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressways.

Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were supposed to release in the proportion of 50 per cent, 25 per cent and 25 per cent respectively for land acquisition cost as per an agreed formula.

Delhi government had already released Rs 387.10, hence, release of balance amount of Rs 266.40 crore had been approved to expedite construction of the peripheral expressways.

This would provide a direct bypass/linkage to that traffic which otherwise would not be destined for entry into Delhi.

The 135 km Western Peripheral Expressway from Kundli to Palwal via Manesar and the 134 km.

Eastern Peripheral Expressway from Kundli to Palwal via NH-1 and NH-2 would have same starting point at Kundli and same termination point at Palwal in Haryana.

Out of 134 km length of Eastern Peripheral Expressway 44 km was in Haryana and 90 km was in Uttar Pradesh.

Ms Dikshit further said a Grade Separator at Mukarba Chowk comprising of a main flyover, four slip roads and four clover leaves apart from pedestrian subway, ramps, cycle track and footpath would be constructed by PWD with an estimated cost of Rs 195 crore within 30 months after award of work.

Mukarba Chowk was one of the busiest junctions and the entry gates from the North. It was a junction formed by NH-1, Road No.26 and Mall Road Extension. The new Grade Separator would benefit the Residential and Industrial Areas in North-West Delhi and interstate traffic moving from North-West Delhi.

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