The NHAI chief conducts an inspection of Dwarka expressway, identifying missing links, alignments, and drainage issues
On Saturday, Santosh Kumar Yadav, the chairperson of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), conducted an inspection of the 18.9-kilometer stretch of the Dwarka Expressway that passes through the city. During the inspection, he highlighted several issues such as missing links and road alignment.
Yadav emphasized that the expressway would have the appearance of an urban forest, with four small forests, or “mini-Amazons,” located at the loops of the cloverleaf on NH-48. The Miyawaki technique will be employed to plant saplings in these areas.
The cloverleaf intersection comprises four interchangeable loops connecting NH-48, Southern Peripheral Road, and Dwarka Expressway near the Kherki Daula toll plaza.
The Dwarka Expressway is set to bring about a substantial enhancement in connectivity between Gurgaon and Delhi’s IGI Airport. The project includes the construction of tunnels, underpasses, elevated flyovers, and flyovers above flyovers,” said Yadav.
The construction of the 29-km expressway, which connects Mahipalpur in the national capital with Khedki Daula on NH-48 in Gurgaon, is now in its final stages.
However, the project faced delays, including a seven-month halt in construction after a section of the speedway collapsed in March 2021. Despite the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 18.9-km Gurgaon section is nearly complete and expected to open in the coming months. On the other hand, the remaining 10 kilometers of the expressway in Delhi is unlikely to be operational until the following year.
The Central Peripheral Road, an integral part of the expressway project that connects it with NH-8 and Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) to enhance connectivity with newer sectors, remains closed to traffic. Last month, the NHAI closed the CPR cloverleaf citing safety concerns arising from the ongoing construction work on the Dwarka Expressway. The cloverleaf’s construction began in September 2021 and was supposed to be completed within one year.
During the inspection, NHAI chairman Yadav, along with deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav and GMDA CEO PC Meena, discussed the need for mutual coordination among officials from GMDA, NHAI, and the district administration for the expressway project.
During the discussion, various issues were raised, encompassing missing links, unavailability of a right of way along the Dwarka Expressway, service lane problems, and drainage system concerns of GMDA. The chairman has instructed the officials to prepare a proposal to address the issues concerning land acquisition,” said a senior district administrative official.
