NHAI Given the Go-ahead by Delhi Government for Dwarka Expressway Package-2
The 29.1 km Dwarka Expressway which is expected to ease commuter traffic on the Delhi-Gurugram road has got approval for Package-2 by the Delhi Government. The expressway will be developed in 4 packages. While package 1 and 2 are part of the 11 km stretch in Delhi, packages 3 and 4 falls in Gurugram (18.1 km). Package-2 comprises of a 4.5-km stretch of elevated road which will connect Dwarka Sector 21 underpass to the Haryana border. The elevated structures will run parallel to each other and provide connectivity to Gurugram from Dwarka, Najafgarh, and West Delhi. Apart from this, there will be 8 elevated lanes and 6 surface lanes from Urban Estate Road-2 and the India International Convention Centre in Dwarka Sector-25 with multiple entry and exit points for ease of travelling. While approval for package 1 (5.3 km stretch from Shiv Murti on NH48 to rail under bridge near Sector 21) is still due, work on packages 3 & 4 has started and is expected to complete by end of next year.
The Dwarka Expressway is running behind schedule. The major reason for the delay is getting approval from the Delhi Government for cutting and transplanting trees on this stretch of land. The permission from the forest department was obtained recently which gave NHAI the go-ahead for the construction. The delay was nearly 2 years as it required felling of nearly 6,500 full-grown trees for the construction of the expressway. While giving approval to the package-2 of the expressway, stringent conditions have been imposed by the government regarding transplantation and compensatory forestation.
According to NHAI chief general manager, Manoj Kumar, it will take nearly a month to shift the trees so that work on package 2 can begin. As per the government’s instructions, nearly 3,500 trees will be transplanted apart from the felling of 3,000 trees (compensatory afforestation will be done in case of the latter). Plantation will be done along Dwarka Expressway and Yamuna floodplains as well as on land identified by Delhi forest department and DDA. This is essential to control pollution and strike a balance between nature and development. NHAI is committed to the transplant drive and maintains that they will plant 10 trees for every tree cut in the name of construction while ensuring that the transplanted trees are taken care of for the next five years.
